The 2023 NBA season is approaching: How is the recovery of injured star players?
As the countdown to the next NBA season continues, basketball fans are anxiously awaiting news about the injured stars’ recovery progress. With the regular season set to begin on October 24th, the spotlight is on these players and their journey back to the court. Fans want to know the extent of their injuries, the rehabilitation process, and any updates on their physical condition.
We tried to gather and consolidate recent updates and information on player injuries and to provide you with the latest developments.
Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
Since being selected as the first pick in the 2019 draft, he has only played more than 30 games in a season once. He should have healed the injury and worked on getting fit for the new season. “I can tell you that Zion Williamson has been in our gym more times this summer than he has in his entire career,” Pelicans general manager David Griffin said, according to Nola.com’s Christian Clark. “He’s been in New Orleans pretty much all summer, which is different.”
He should be ready and fit for the start of the competition.
Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Chet Holmgren returned to the court this summer after suffering a foot injury last year. In the 2023 NBA Summer League, he averaged 16.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 3.5 BPG in four games played in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Holmgren also set a summer league record with 15 blocks in a single game. He was also part of the preparations of the USA national team for the World Cup and has entered the last weeks of preparations in full capacity.
Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
In November, Detroit’s guard suffered a lower leg injury that required surgery, ending his season. According to reports, the first pick of the 2021 draft declined to play for the USA national team at the FIBA World Cup, opting instead to recover during the summer. Cunningham is expected to be fully recovered and ready to play without restrictions by the end of October.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
Leonard and George have been integral to the Clippers, but injuries have been their biggest adversary. Although they have won many Games together, everything has not been smooth sailing. Leonard underwent “cleaning” surgery during the summer and is expected to be fit, but he might need frequent rest during the season. On the other hand, George missed the end of the previous season due to an ankle injury, but he has already started preparing in May and should be fully fit.
Chris Paul (Golden State Warriors)
He was absent during the series’ final game against the Denver Nuggets, but he is expected to be ready for the upcoming season, during which he will play alongside Steph Curry.
Steven Adams and Desmond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies)
Adams has been out of action for the Memphis Grizzlies since January due to a knee injury but is expected to return for the start of the season. Bane underwent surgery on his right big toe in May, but he is expected to be back and perform well. The team will miss Ja Morant, who was suspended for the first 25 Games. Meanwhile, he signed a lucrative five-year contract worth $207 million.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar, had to miss the games for the Greek national team due to a minor knee surgery. Although he couldn’t represent his country in the Olympic qualifiers, he is expected to recover soon. The good news is that there is currently no sign that the surgery should delay his debut in the upcoming 2023/2024 NBA season.
Meanwhile, another Bucks player, Khris Middleton, had knee surgery last April but could resume training in July. He will be ready to join the team in the next season without problems.
Julius Randle (New York Knicks)
It is currently unknown to what extent he has recovered from the arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle, which took place in June.
Kristaps Porzingis and Domantas Sabonis (Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings)
Two basketball players from the Baltic region missed the Mundobasket. Kristaps Porzingis had to undergo an operation, with a typical recovery period of 4-6 weeks. Therefore, he should be able to play at the beginning of the season.
Meanwhile, Domantas Sabonis had an issue with his thumb but chose not to have surgery and rested during the summer to ensure he would be ready to play for the Kings in the upcoming season.
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