We’re less than a week away from the start of the NBA regular season, and we already have an injury list that looks like a weekend shopping trip to Target. From players like LeBron James, Jalen Williams, and Jalen Williams, there are impactful injuries to our fantasy basketball lineups everywhere, so I’m here to break it all down. Let’s dive into the fantasy basketball injury report for Week 1 so we have a sense of what we’re dealing with. It’ll also help you make some decisions in your upcoming fantasy basketball drafts as well! 

Speaking of fantasy basketball drafts, have you seen our Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet for sale? Get it HERE on Fantasy Alarm!

 

 

Fantasy Basketball Injury Report Ahead of Opening Week

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers - Nerve

The Los Angeles Lakers are already dealing with injuries as 40-year-old LeBron James has a sciatica issue, which is a nerve irritation in his glute. He’s going to be reevaluated in 3-to-4 weeks, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to start playing games at the beginning of that timeline. His return is a bit ominous at this point, as it doesn’t look like we’ll have James until at least November. If he returns at the beginning of November, that will mean a six-game absence, but there’s no guarantee that’s the case at this point.

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers - Knee

Well, well, well. Look what we have here. We had a Joel Embiid sighting. No, not just at a grocery store. Not just on the sidelines. But in a scrimmage. There hasn’t been any definitive news on when Joel Embiid’s going to officially return, but this definitely is a good thing moving forward. We’re at the point where we could even see Embiid in a preseason game, and he could even be available for opening night.

Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder - Wrist

This is another situation we don’t really have anything definitive on. When asked about Williams, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said, “He’s on his return to play. He’s progressing on a normal timeline and taking it a day at a time.” That’s just not an answer, and we have no idea if Jalen Williams will be available when the season kicks off. This is a situation to monitor.

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies - Ankle

“They be tweakin” is what Ja Morant told Damichael Cole of the Memphis News when he was asked about not being available for opening night. The concern comes because Morant is dealing with a sprained ankle and was deemed week-to-week because of it. It is fair for people to question his availability because he hasn’t played more than 63 games since 2020.

De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs - Hamstring

Preseason injuries stink, especially when they’re going to rule someone out for the start of the year. That’s what we have here due to De’Aaron Fox’s hamstring injury. It shouldn’t be an injury that keeps him out for too long beyond the opener, but he’s going to miss the start of the year for sure. I wouldn’t deduct much in terms of Fox’s fantasy value.

 

 

 

Jaren Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies - Toe

Back in July, Jaren Jackson underwent surgery on his toe for turf toe injury. It was said by the Grizzlies in September that it’s a four-to-six week return to play, putting him on a timeline that brings him back to game action at the end of October or early November. Jackson is going to miss a handful of games, but it won’t impact his fantasy value unless there is some type of setback.

Coby White, Chicago Bulls - Calf

We haven’t seen Coby White this preseason, and head coach Billy Donovan said we won’t see him until the regular season, BUT don’t worry, he’s going to be OK. White’s calf injury is good enough that he’s going to be ready for game number one.

Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors - Ankle

On Tuesday night, it was revealed by head coach Steve Kerr that Jimmy Butler is dealing with an ankle sprain. He was sent for an MRI, and it came back clean, so exhale, Jimmy Butler fantasy owners. There’s nothing suggesting he’ll miss opening night despite the sprain.

Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns - Hamstring

When in China, Jalen Green reportedly aggravated his hamstring and will be reevaluated in 10 days, meaning he’ll miss the beginning of the season. Green shouldn’t miss too much of the regular season.

Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers - Knee

We’ve seen Paul George back on the floor in 1-on-0 situations, but that’s it, so how long until we see George in game action? Guess what? Nobody knows! Head coach Nick Nurse was non-committal about George playing in the 76ers' final few preseason games or even for the season opener, coming on October 22nd.

 

 

 

Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers - Toe

It seems as if Darius Garland is improving from his offseason toe injury as he was recently seen participating in some individual work after practice, but it’s possible he doesn’t open the season on the court. Even if he doesn’t, it won’t be soon after the season starts until Garland returns.

Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic - Knee

Things this offseason have not gone well for Jalen Suggs because initial thoughts were that he’d be ready for opening night after having knee surgery in the offseason, but things are going a lot slower than anticipated. Head coach Jamal Mosley told the media they’ll know more in the next couple of weeks, which suggests Suggs isn’t in a good place right now.

Josh Hart, New York Knicks - Back

Head coach Mike Brown told the media this past weekend that Josh Hart is making progress as he’s done some on-court work, but hasn’t practiced with the team since the back spasms started. Hart’s projected to start the year as the sixth man while Mitchell Robinson enters the starting lineup.

Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards - Thumb

EuroBasket was very, very fun for a lot of folks, but not Bilal Coulibaly, who tore his thumb ligaments while playing for France. This injury is labeled as a 6-to-8 week injury, which puts him on a timeline that gets him back on the floor sometime in November.

Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies - Ankle

Back in July, Zach Edey had to have surgery on his ankle, and he’s going to miss the beginning of the year. It sounds like Edey’s return will come sometime in November. Santi Aldama, Jock Landale, and Brandon Clarke will operate as the team's centers while Edey’s out.

 

 

 

Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers - Hamstring

In a season that the Portland Trail Blazers absolutely need to figure out what they have in Scoot Henderson, it’ll be put on hold because of a torn hamstring. He suffered it in late September, and the timeline given was 4-to-8 weeks. It’s another player with a November return, and if it’s closer to the eight weeks, pretty deep into November.

Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers - Knee

We’re very close to seeing Bradley Beal make his Clippers debut, as head coach Tyronn Lue said so. So much so that it’s possible that Beal plays in a preseason game before the regular season kicks off.

Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers - Thumb

Things got off to such a great start for Jared McCain, and it’s been nothing but injuries since then. Last year, it was a meniscus tear, and right now, it’s a UCL tear in his thumb. He’s going to miss the start of the regular season and will be reevaluated in four-to-six weeks and this is dating back to when he first suffered the injury on September 25th.

Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves - Ankle

Although Jaden McDaniels is dealing with an ankle sprain, it’s considered minor, and he should be back for the start of the regular season. McDaniels is coming off a season in which he played ALL 82 games. 

Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings - Thumb

The Kings will be without Keegan Murray for at least a month due to a UCL tear in his thumb on his left hand. It’s a four-to-six week recovery, meaning he’ll miss a minimum of 10 games. Murray’s fantasy floor has dropped drastically since his rookie season.

 

 

 

T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers - Hamstring

The preseason giveth and the preseason taketh away. T.J. McConnell hurt his hamstring against the Timberwolves and will now miss a month of action. We’re not going to see McConnell until the end of November.

Robert Williams, Portland Trail Blazers - Knee

We’re nearing a Robert Williams return as he was listed as a “return to competition reconditioning” prior to their preseason game on Tuesday. That is a positive, but Williams is often injured, and his fantasy value is in the toilet because of it.

Scotty Pippen Jr., Memphis Grizzlies - Toe

This toe soreness seems as if it’s going to be a minor issue, as he’s missed a few preseason games. He should be good to go by the time the regular season rolls around next week.

Max Strus, Cleveland Cavaliers - Foot

Back in August, sharpshooting wing Max Strus underwent surgery on his foot and is expected to miss three-to-four months of the season. That means the best-case scenario is he’s back in December, and the most likely scenario is January. He has essentially zero fantasy value at this point.

Egor Demin, Brooklyn Nets - Foot

One of the Nets' five first-round draft picks, Egor Demin, took a step in the right direction this week as he’s advanced to five-on-five in scrimmages. Demin is recovering from a plantar fascia tear.
 

 

 

Get the 2025 Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet!

Ready to dominate your draft and back up your hilarious team name with a championship roster? Grab the Fantasy Alarm 2025 Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet and get the edge you need! This downloadable PDF includes:

  • Top 250 Player & Positional Rankings
  • 16 Round Draft Grid with Auction Values
  • Sleepers, Busts & Rookies!

Just $14.97 or FREE with an All-Pro subscription. Don't miss out, visit Fantasy Alarm now and build a squad that matches your swagger!