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On Tuesday Feb. 6, New York Knickerbocker star Kristaps Porzingis had his name added to a growing list of players felled by injury this season. The lucky ones will miss weeks or months and return to the court. Too many others, however, have long roads of recovery ahead of them that will extend well into the offseason, if not beyond it.
The following injury tracker includes players who have suffered injuries in the 2017-18 season that:
- can be deemed catastrophic (unusual, freak happenings);
- required or will require surgery;
- ended or will end a player’s season; and/or
- caused or will cause a star to miss two or more weeks of playing time.
Injury tracker: 2017-18 NBA season
| Player | Team | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Injury | Status |
| Alexis Ajinca | New Orleans Pelicans | Knee injury/surgery | Likely out for season |
| Lonzo Ball | Los Angeles Lakers | Ankle and knee injuries | Out since Jan. 13 |
| Jordan Bell | Golden State Warriors | Bone bruise | Expected to miss 2-4 weeks |
| Malcom Brogdon | Milwaukee Bucks | Quad tendon tear | Expected to miss 6-8 weeks |
| Isaiah Canaan | Phoenix Suns | Ankle fracture/surgery | Out for season |
| Darren Collison | Indiana Pacers | Arthroscopic surgery, knee | Expected to miss 2-3 weeks |
| Mike Conley | Memphis Grizzlies | Heel injury/surgery | Out for season |
| DeMarcus Cousins | New Orleans Pelicans | Ruptured Achilles' tendon/surgery | Out for season |
| Seth Curry | Dallas Mavericks | Tibia injury/surgery | Out for season |
| Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | Ankle sprain | Missed 11 games |
| Kris Dunn | Chicago Bulls | Concussion/broken teeth | Spent 3 weeks in concussion protocol |
| Markelle Fultz | Philadelphia 76ers | Shoulder injury | Missed 3+ months |
| Blake Griffin | LA Clippers | MCL sprain | Missed 4 weeks |
| James Harden | Houston Rockets | Hamstring strain | Missed 18 days |
| Gordon Hayward | Boston Celtics | Dislocated ankle/fractured tibia/surgery | Hasn't played since game 1 |
| Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs | Quad injury | Out indefinitely |
| Jeremy Lin | Brooklyn Nets | Ruptured patellar tendon/surgery | Out for season |
| Kevin Love | Cleveland Cavaliers | Hand fracture | Expected to miss 6-8 weeks |
| Patrick McCaw | Golden State Warriors | Left wrist fracture | Expected to miss 4 weeks |
| Chris Paul | Houston Rockets | Knee | Missed 14 games |
| Kristaps Porzingis | New York Knicks | ACL tear/surgery | Out for season/expected to miss start of 2018-19 season |
| Andre Roberson | Oklahoma City Thunder | Ruptured patellar tendon/surgery | Out for season |
| D'Angelo Russell | Brooklyn Nets | Knee injury/surgery | Hasn't played since Nov. 2017 |
| Thabo Sefalosha | Utah Jazz | Knee injury/surgery | Out for season |
| Dion Waiters | Miami Heat | Ankle injury/surgery | Out for season |
| John Wall | Washington Wizard | Knee injury/surgery | Expected to miss 6 weeks |
The preference, of course, would be for players in the league to remain healthy for the rest of the season. However (and most unfortunately), the current tide of injuries indicates that other players — at any time — could have their seasons derailed, too. Thus, this list will be updated accordingly, if/when future injuries occur.
Now, tell us what you think about the startling injury streak sweeping the league. Your votes and comments could appear in a future article!
Poll
Are there more injuries in the 2017-18 NBA season than in prior seasons you remember?
This poll is closed
-
65%
Yes
(111 votes) -
22%
Unsure
(38 votes) -
12%
No
(21 votes)
Poll
What is causing the current rash of injuries to key players?
This poll is closed
-
12%
82-game season
(20 votes) -
56%
Bigger, faster, stronger athletes, yet delicate tendons and ligaments
(91 votes) -
8%
Shorter preseason/training camp
(14 votes) -
17%
Team depth: Guys playing too many minutes per game
(28 votes) -
4%
Other: [Answer in the comments]
(8 votes)
UPDATES:
Feb. 14: Patrick McCaw added.