A week into the NBA season, the injury list already looks like it belongs in December, not October. Star after star has gone down, and the ripple effect has been immediate across the league. Whether it’s caution from teams, the grind of the schedule, or something deeper, the result is the same: contenders and hopefuls alike are suddenly trying to patch holes before the season has even settled in.
The Timberwolves have already been forced to navigate life without Anthony Edwards, whose right knee issue has sent him toward a procedure intended to clear up the problem long term. Minnesota is expecting a lengthy absence, with a two-month recovery window pointing to a return around the new year if everything goes smoothly.
Oklahoma City has taken one of the hardest hits of all. Jalen Williams suffered an ankle injury in the third game of the season, and the Thunder’s outlook took a major turn with it.
He had already missed most of last season, and this latest setback was described as a gruesome injury that leaves his year likely finished, even if the team only said he’ll be re-evaluated toward the end of the season. The Thunder were dealt another blow in the same game when Cason Wallace injured his left shoulder and will need surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Wallace, who signed a five-year, $139 million deal just before the season, is expected to miss most, if not all, of the rest of the year, leaving Oklahoma City down two key starters.
Tyrese Haliburton’s return from the ruptured Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Thunder was one of the early season feel-good stories, but that was interrupted when he picked up a hamstring strain after playing Indiana’s first four games. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, “Ty has a mild strain in his left hamstring,” and added, “We list it as week-to-week, so let’s just say two weeks from now. ...
I don’t think it’s realistic that he would play before then.” The injury doesn’t sound severe, but Indiana is still taking the cautious route with its point guard.
Orlando’s rough run with injuries continued when Paolo Banchero hurt his right ankle in the second game of the season. Banchero had opened the year with a huge line - 35 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds - in a loss to the Hawks, and the Magic have been left without their primary scorer ever since.
That includes the first full game after his injury, when new coach Sean Sweeney got his first career win against the Knicks. The problem got even bigger for Orlando when Jalen Suggs also went down, though his injury turned out to be less severe than it first looked.
Suggs suffered a non-contact injury in the win over the Knicks and will miss a couple of weeks, giving Jase Richardson and Anthony Black more minutes while the Magic are short-handed.
Kawhi Leonard’s latest return to Toronto has also been stalled. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Leonard will miss “a period of weeks,” though his MRI did not show structural damage.
Leonard wrote, “Yeah it’s always frustrating to miss time,” followed by, “I came back to compete with this team and I’m focused on getting back to 100 (percent). Toronto, I’ve appreciated the love since I’ve been back.
Returning soon.” With his previous knee issues, the absence carries extra concern.
Utah has been hit too. Taylor Jackson and Lauri Markkanen both went out in the same game, though Markkanen’s wrist sprain is being treated as day-to-day.
Jackson’s situation is tougher for the Jazz, who were hoping for a step forward after acquiring him from Memphis at last season’s deadline. He only played three games for Utah last season, which didn’t matter much then because the year was already winding down.
This season is different.
Detroit also took a hit when Jalen Duren got hurt in the second game of the year after a summer of restricted free agency tension with the Pistons. He isn’t expected to miss a huge chunk of time, but he still leaves a real void next to Cade Cunningham. Even so, Detroit managed to beat the 76ers without Duren and Ausar Thompson.
Then there’s Ben Simmons, whose long-awaited return hit another wall before it even got going. He suffered a torn Achilles and is done for the season after spending last year away from the league.
Sacramento signed him to a one-year deal, so the next chapter will have to wait until next summer. The Kings, off to a rough 0-4 start, could have used him.
And that’s only the top layer. The injury report around the league keeps growing, with more absences that are affecting games in different ways, some major and some less so. For now, though, the bigger story is simple: the season is barely underway, and it is already being shaped by who isn’t on the floor.
In Other News...
Pacers Suddenly Have A Tyrese Haliburton Problem Before 76ers Game
The Pacers injury report is suddenly carrying more weight than usual ahead of their matchup with the 76ers, and Tyrese Haliburton is right at the center of it. Indiana listed the star guard as questionable with left hamstring tightness, a development that matters even more as the team tries to build momentum after a rough previous season and continues working Haliburton back into form following his torn Achilles.
Indiana is also dealing with several other injury concerns, leaving the rotation a little more unsettled than the matchup on paper might suggest. Philadelphia, by comparison, has a shorter list of absences with four players unavailable, so the Pacers may have to manage both the game plan and the roster picture at once before they even get to tipoff. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburtons Absence Leaves Pacers Facing A Brutal Early Test
Tyrese Haliburtons left hamstring strain has put the Pacers in an early-season bind, and the bigger issue right now is the uncertainty around how long theyll have to navigate without their offensive engine. Haliburton, who signed a five-year extension in 2023, has been driving Indianas attack again this season, averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists while setting the pace for everything the team wants to do.
Indiana is already dealing with another major absence, with center Ivica Zubac sidelined by a left ankle injury, which only raises the degree of difficulty for a group trying to stay afloat while key pieces heal. For the Pacers, the challenge is not just replacing production, but reworking the rhythm of a team built around Haliburtons playmaking while waiting for a clearer picture on his return. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Had Pacers Fans Cracking Up With His Rick Carlisle Tribute
Pascal Siakam gave Pacers fans a quick laugh during a recent press conference by arriving in costume as Rick Carlisle, channeling the coach in a nod to one of Carlisles most memorable media moments from his days with the Mavericks. Siakam even taped his mouth shut to mimic Carlisles famous reaction to questions about officiating after a playoff game, turning a routine interview setting into a bit of basketball theater.
For Indiana, it was the kind of lighthearted scene that can travel fast in a season still finding its footing, with the Pacers sitting at 2-2. It also underscored how quickly Siakam has settled into the teams orbit, comfortable enough to poke fun at his coach while giving the fan base something to enjoy beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]