If you’ve checked a box score this week, you probably noticed something weird. Or maybe it's just the "new normal." Half the names that usually light up the marquee are sitting in sweats on the end of the bench. It’s frustrating. Honestly, it’s getting harder to track who’s actually playing on a Tuesday night than it is to understand the salary cap.
The list of nba players that are injured right now feels less like a report and more like an All-NBA ballot. We aren't just talking about role players with "soreness." We are talking about the faces of the league. Icons. Future Hall of Famers. Guys who are supposed to be carrying the torch but are currently stuck in the trainer’s room.
The Big Names Missing from the Floor
Look at Denver. Nikola Jokic—the guy who usually seems indestructible—has been out with a left knee hyperextension since late December. The Nuggets are somehow staying afloat because Jamal Murray is playing like a man possessed, but watching Denver without the Joker is like watching a symphony without a conductor. It works, but it's not the same music.
Then you’ve got the Mavericks. Dallas fans are going through it right now. Anthony Davis is out with a hand injury that might need surgery. Kyrie Irving? He’s been sidelined since June with that torn ACL. And just when they thought things couldn't get worse, their prize rookie, Cooper Flagg, rolled his ankle against Denver on Wednesday. He’s the future, and seeing him limp off is a gut-punch for a team already missing Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum.
It’s a pattern across the map.
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In Philadelphia, the Joel Embiid saga continues. He was finally on a six-game streak—his longest since early 2024—and then the "injury management" tag returned. Left knee, plus some groin soreness. He’s played 19 games this season. Nineteen. For a guy with his talent, that’s a tragedy for the sport. The Sixers are basically survivalists at this point, leaning on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to keep the 21-15 record from sliding into the abyss.
Why the NBA Injury Report is Growing
People love to complain about "load management," but the reality is more clinical. The game is faster. The lateral movement required to guard a "five-out" offense puts a ridiculous amount of torque on ankles and knees.
Take Ja Morant. He’s missed 20 games this year already. Most recently, it’s a right calf contusion. He’s supposedly progressing and might return during the Global Games in Europe, but the Grizzlies are a shell of themselves without that vertical threat. When your game relies on explosive twitch movements, a "minor" calf issue isn't minor at all. It’s a career-altering risk if you rush it.
Even the iron-man types are feeling it. Kevin Durant has been playing out of his mind for the Rockets (passing Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time scoring list recently!), but he’s carrying a massive load with Alperen Sengun sidelined. The minutes are piling up.
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Current High-Profile Absences (January 2026)
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets): Knee hyperextension. Expected back late January.
- Anthony Davis (Mavericks): Hand injury. Potential surgery looming.
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks): Just exited the Kings game with a right ankle sprain.
- Chet Holmgren (Thunder): Dealing with bilateral shin soreness. It’s a blow to his DPOY campaign, though he’s still the favorite.
- Kristaps Porzingis (Hawks): Left Achilles tendinitis. The Hawks are being extra cautious given his history.
- Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks): The young star is out with knee inflammation.
The "65-Game Rule" is Starting to Bite
There was a lot of talk about the league’s 65-game minimum for awards. Well, we are seeing the fallout now. Victor Wembanyama is reportedly just three missed games away from being disqualified from major awards. That’s wild. One of the greatest defensive seasons we’ve seen might not officially count for a trophy because of a nagging injury.
It creates this weird tension. Teams want to protect their investment, but players want their legacy. You can see it in how the Thunder are handling Chet Holmgren. He’s missed some time with shin soreness, but they are clearly trying to balance his health with the fact that he has the "Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy" (DPOY) virtually locked up if he stays on the floor.
Impact on Betting and Fantasy
If you’re a bettor, the nba players that are injured list is basically your Bible. The swing in lines is massive. When Jalen Brunson went down in the first quarter against the Kings, the Knicks’ offense looked completely lost.
Fantasy managers are feeling the burn, too. Finding "handcuffs" for guys like Embiid or Jokic is no longer a luxury; it’s a requirement for winning. Peyton Watson in Denver is a prime example—he’s stepped up for 31-point games because the stars are out. If you aren't watching the injury wire every 30 minutes, you're losing.
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What Happens Next?
The league has a problem. You want the best product on the floor, but the human body has limits. The 2026 season is proving that even with the best medical tech in history, 82 games is a gauntlet that few survive unscathed.
Honestly, the best thing you can do as a fan is stop looking at the standings and start looking at the training staff. The teams that win the title in June aren't necessarily the most talented—they’re the ones that managed to stay out of the "Out" column in January.
Actionable Insights for Following Injuries:
- Monitor the "Questionable" tag: In 2026, about 60% of players listed as questionable are being ruled out within two hours of tip-off. If you’re betting, wait for the final active list.
- Watch the G-League call-ups: Teams like the Jazz and Bulls are currently relying on G-League depth (like John Tonje or Oscar Tshiebwe) to fill rotation minutes. These are the guys who determine the spread in mid-season "grind" games.
- Track "Bilateral" issues: When you see "bilateral" (like Chet Holmgren's shins), it usually points to a mechanical or over-use issue rather than a one-time trauma. These often lead to longer absences than a simple sprain.
- Check the "Global Games" schedule: For stars like Ja Morant, the NBA often targets high-profile international games for their return to maximize marketing, even if they were ready a few days earlier.