Chris Haynes provides an update on Jayson Tatum's rehab from injury on The Association.
The NBA season is nearing its first month of completion, and several teams aren’t yet complete.
Injuries — some temporary, some long-term, some that will stretch into next season — are to blame. This creates a next-man-up situation, although in a few cases the missing player is so crucial that he cannot be adequately replaced.
Two teams in particular, the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, are essentially in a holding pattern until Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton suit up, which will take a minute.
Which teams can overcome these injury hiccups, and which teams are doomed by them?
Here’s a list of those shorthanded teams, the impact of the missing players so far, and what lies ahead (all in alphabetical order):
Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young
Did anyone imagine the Hawks furiously flapping wings and flying high — five straight wins! — without their leading scorer and assist guy from the past few seasons? While Young deals with an MCL injury that could bench him until after Thanksgiving, the Hawks found a groove with Jalen Johnson, who seems ready to assume the best-player-on-the-team honors. Meanwhile, the backcourt is being held down by Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The next flapping sound you could hear will be all the lips creating trade chatter involving Trae, who did not sign an extension with the club last summer.
Brooklyn Nets: Cam Thomas
A hamstring injury suffered a few weeks ago against Indiana could keep him out until next month, which is a blow for a team without its second-leading scorer. That said, the Nets were using this as an opportunity for rebuilding anyway. It’s also an opportunity for one of their many youngsters, such as Tyrese Martin, Egor Demin, Ben Saraf and others, to seize playing time.
Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum
The most ambitious, best-case scenario for Tatum’s return is late this season, maybe March or early April. Of course, the struggling Celtics, who have only missed the playoffs once since 2007, could be headed to the draft lottery by then. They prepared for this rough bridge year by waving the white flag before it started, parting ways with Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford, and therefore could tell Tatum to chill until next season’s reload.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Max Strus
The swingman suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot during offseason workouts. While he is progressing and out of a boot, there’s no timetable for his return. Although the Cavs are among the East leaders, their only reliable 3-point shooter besides Donovan Mitchell is Sam Merrill, so Strus is needed. Meanwhile, Darius Garland is struggling to regain form because of a nagging toe injury.
Dallas Mavericks: Anthony Davis & Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving speaks to the media at 2025 Dallas Mavericks media day.
Talk about your drama — none is thicker and louder than what’s going on in Dallas. Now that the fans don’t have Nico Harrison to blame anymore, the new front office regime must decide, and rather quickly, whether to compete or start anew. Assuming that building around Cooper Flagg is better long-term (answer: yes), then Davis and Irving may have played their final games in Dallas. General managers around the league are waiting by the phone for a call from the 214.
Denver Nuggets: Christian Braun
Just as the Nuggets were rolling along, Braun rolled his left ankle and will be re-evaluated in six weeks. Good thing the Nuggets added depth in the offseason with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown. Will Denver look more to Peyton Watson and/or Julian Strawther as well? Speaking of more, the Nuggets could use that offensively from Cam Johnson, anemic so far with the jumper (28.9% on 3-pointers), to replace the points lost to Braun’s injury.
Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey
He averaged 17.6 points per game last season and played in only 30 games because of knee surgery. The anticipated backcourt tandem with Cade Cunningham remains on hold after Ivey required a follow-up procedure. The East-leading Pistons are motoring along anyway, thanks to Cunningham and center Jalen Duren.
Houston Rockets: Fred VanVleet
With their leader possibly out for the season following ACL surgery, the Rockets can either search for a replacement between now and the trade deadline, continue shoveling point guard minutes to Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, or run their offense through Alperen Sengun (who leads the team in assists). The won-loss record going forward will dictate their decision-making.
Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton
It’s just about rock bottom for a team that was three-quarters away from a possible championship last June. It shows the value of Haliburton in the Pacers’ ecosystem, and the lack of value among a handful of role players who cannot seem to flourish without the star point guard who injured his Achilles in Game 7 and is done until next season. Losing Myles Turner for good, Benedict Mathurin for 11 games, Aaron Nesmith for a month (knee) and Obi Toppin until February (foot surgery) only adds to the doldrums. This season could be a write-off, not that the Pacers have much choice, according to the standings.
LA Clippers: Bradley Beal
The Clippers and injuries go together like disappointment and dismay. It’s a part of their history, and once again, damaging their present and possibly future. Beal, who was off to a rough start anyway, will need the entire season to mend from hip surgery. And we haven’t mentioned the persistent bodily issues with Kawhi Leonard that prevent him from playing every game. You wonder if LA will stick with the Kawhi plan or pull the plug.
Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James
The Association talks about LeBron James getting ready to make his return.
It’s just a matter of minutes or hours before LeBron joins Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves and gives the Lakers a chance to beat good teams and him to beat Father Time, or at least cheat Him a while longer.
Memphis Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr.
The real “injury” is what’s happening to the Grizzlies’ season. Memphis is hurting in large part due to the drama swirling around Ja Morant, who’s off to a poor start and is now out at least two weeks with a right calf strain. If it’s time to part ways with the former franchise player, then Pippen could be the point guard replacement once he returns. The 25-year-old, out with a big toe injury, was solid in limited duty (21 starts) last season.
Miami Heat: Tyler Herro
He’s still mending from left ankle and foot surgery and is just starting to ramp up. Ordinarily, losing a player who averaged 23.9 ppg (as Herro did in 2024-25) would seriously handcuff a team. But Miami executed one of the more under-the-radar deals when it acquired Norman Powell from the LA Clippers for a plate of stone crabs. Norman is averaging 25.5 ppg and Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez are getting buckets, too. You wonder if Miami might be open to swapping Herro before the deadline, if the offers are too good to refuse.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
He’s arguably the most important player in any franchise, which obviously means his groin strain will be costly to the Bucks for as long as he’s out. His net rating is second only to Nikola Jokić’s, and the Bucks’ offense ranks last whenever the league’s fourth-leading scorer isn’t on the floor. If Antetokounmpo is out, it means it is time for Myles Turner, Ryan Rollins and Kyle Kuzma to pick up the slack — if that’s possible.
New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson & Dejounte Murray
There’s a reason all seems gloomy with the Pelicans — injuries have contributed heavily to their plunge in the West, and the Hawks own their No. 1 pick in next June’s draft. Williamson is once again gimpy, this time with a bad hamstring, while Murray isn’t expected back from an Achilles injury until February. The silver lining? Two youngsters are taking advantage: Jeremiah Fears is balling, and rookie Derik Queen — who cost New Orleans that No. 1 to the Hawks — might be the real deal.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Jalen Williams
Jalen Williams enjoyed every bit of cheering on his OKC Thunder in their thrilling Ring Night win.
This is downright criminal, how the Thunder have been without an All-NBA player all season and still seem nearly invincible. It reflects the amazing depth of this team and raises the idea that OKC can split itself into two and both teams would make the playoffs. Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso in relief, sheesh. Williams might need to earn his way back (kidding).
Philadelphia 76ers: Paul George
The Association crew gives their thoughts on Paul George making his season debut.
He returned on Tuesday and is on restricted minutes, but his return is one of the most-watched because it could resolve issues or inflame the 76ers. Will the 35-year-old have a comeback season after averaging 16.2 ppg and missing 41 games last season? Will Philly, off to a decent start without George (and limited action by Joel Embiid), comfortably absorb him into a lineup without limiting the touches of rookie VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey?
Phoenix Suns: Jalen Green
He’s facing an extended absence due to ongoing hamstring issues. He was acquired from Houston in the Kevin Durant deal and expected to replace some of Kevin Durant’s buckets. That’s on hold. At least Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen are combining for nearly 40 points and Royce O’Neale is shooting 45% from deep.
Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson
With Damian Lillard out for the year, this was supposed to be a prime chance for Henderson to gobble minutes and show progress. Instead, the former No. 3 pick hasn’t played yet, still recovering from a hamstring issue. With Holiday holding down the point guard spot nicely for now and Lillard on deck, is Henderson still in the plans and if so, how much?
San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama
Not to fret, as his left calf strain isn’t described as serious. These injuries can be tricky and the Spurs are off to a superb start in part by Wembanyama. And remember the 65-game minimum rule for award qualification, given that he’ll likely be in the running for two — Kia Defensive Player of the Year and Kia MVP — should the Spurs be extra-extra cautious regarding his recovery.
Utah Jazz: Walker Kessler
Losing Kessler for the season after five games with a torn labrum was a bummer for all involved. Kessler was averaging 14.4 ppg and 10.8 rpg and Utah had a better-than-expected start. Jusuf Nurkić is now the starting center. The other issue is money — the two sides couldn’t agree on an extension, making the 24-year-old a restricted free agent next summer.
Washington Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly
The former No. 7 pick who stared the first four games is mending from a calf issue but the rebuilding Wizards have capable youngsters ready to assume those minutes. This season is all about grooming folks for the future. By the way, Alex Sarr is solid. The Wizards know they have at least one keeper in the bunch, maybe Kyshawn George as well.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
