As of Thursday, October 15, 2026, numerous NBA players face injury challenges as the 2026-27 season approaches. The regular season starts next Tuesday with three games, followed by the rest of the league beginning their campaigns a day later. Here’s a rundown of the key injuries to monitor ahead of the opening week.
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Coby White of the Charlotte Hornets has been sidelined with a calf strain, losing his entire preseason to recovery. Having previously dealt with similar injuries, his return may be limited. Fellow Hornets player Kon Knueppel is also questionable for the season opener after tweaking his hamstring.
Nic Claxton from the Chicago Bulls tweaked his hamstring and is expected to be re-evaluated two weeks after sustaining the injury, raising concerns about his availability for the Bulls' first game against Toronto on October 21.
Bradley Beal of the Los Angeles Clippers is dealing with a knee issue and will not be ready for the start of the season, which is particularly troubling given the team's already lengthy injury list. Brandon Ingram is reportedly progressing in his recovery from a partially torn Achilles, but no timeline for his return has been set. Max Strus, also with the Clippers, suffered a partial plantar fascia tear and will be re-evaluated in about four weeks, ruling him out for the October 21 game against Sacramento.
In Orlando, Anthony Black has an ankle sprain but is ramping up for a potential return at the start of the regular season. Meanwhile, Dejounte Murray of the New Orleans Pelicans is dealing with a toe injury, with the team taking a cautious approach to his recovery.
The Sacramento Kings will be without backup center Maxime Raynaud for at least the first five games due to a knee issue, while Dylan Cardwell is expected to miss a similar amount of time with a calf strain. For the San Antonio Spurs, Tobias Harris is also dealing with a calf strain and is questionable for the opener against the Thunder.
Jusuf Nurkic of the Utah Jazz has a partial plantar plate tear in his toe, which could sideline him for the first eight games of the regular season. Kristaps Porzingis of the Golden State Warriors has been absent from training camp due to an undisclosed illness, and a return date has yet to be announced.
In Dallas, Dereck Lively continues to recover from foot surgery and has not been cleared for training camp. Isaiah Stewart of the Memphis Grizzlies sprained his ankle during a preseason game and is expected to be out for the October 21 opener but could return shortly thereafter.
Long-term concerns include Donte DiVincenzo of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who is recovering from an Achilles tear, and Jimmy Butler of the Golden State Warriors, who is nine months post-ACL reconstruction but could target a return in early 2027. Other players like Moses Moody and Mark Williams will also miss significant time due to knee and shoulder injuries, respectively, and Shaedon Sharpe of the Portland Trail Blazers is expected to be out for at least six months after a meniscus tear.