With the Regular Season set to begin on October 17, NBA teams always hope to start the season in pristine health. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.
Here are some key NBA players that have suffered injuries that will likely force them to miss the beginning of the regular season. Players such as Zach Lavine, Jabari Parker, Tony Parker, and Isaiah Thomas who are still recovering from injuries they sustained in the previous season are not included.
Nicolas Batum, Hornets
Batum is expected to miss six to eight weeks for the Charlotte Hornets after he tore a ligament in his left elbow.
Entering his 10th season, the 28-year-old averaged career-highs of 15.1 points and 5.9 Assists Per Game in 2016-17. Jeremy Lamb will take his place as the starting shooting guard.
Seth Curry, Mavericks
Curry is said to be out week-to-week with a stress fracture in his left tibia. He received regular playing time for the first time in his career last season with the Dallas Mavericks and finished with per game averages of 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 42.5% on three-pointers.
Kris Dunn, Bulls
Dunn dislocated his left finger in the Chicago Bulls preseason game on Friday. He is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. He is the probable starting point guard for the rebuilding Bulls once he returns.
He struggled last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves in his rookie year who drafted him fifth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. In 17.1 minutes per game, he averaged just 3.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.
Dante Exum, Jazz
Exum is expected to miss the entire season for the second time in his career due to a separated left shoulder which also caused ligament damage.
The Utah Jazz has yet to see the full potential of Exum, whom they selected fifth overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. Last season, he posted per game averages of 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
Solomon Hill, Pelicans
Hill is expected to be out until after the All-Star break after surgery on a torn hamstring. Hill started 71 of the 80 games he appeared in for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2016-17 and posted per game averages of 7.0 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Richaun Holmes, 76ers
Holmes was diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist and will be re-evaluated in three weeks. The third-year pro played in 57 games (17 starts) last season for the Philadelphia 76ers and averaged 9.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and one block per game.
Ben McLemore, Grizzlies
McLemore was expected to miss 12 weeks after he fractured his right foot in early August. That would put him in line to return around early November. The 24-year-old signed a two-year/$10.7 million contract this offseason to join the Memphis Grizzlies after spending his first four seasons with the Sacramento Kings. In 61 games (26 starts) last season, he averaged 8.1 points and 2.1 Rebounds Per Game.
Markieff Morris, Wizards
Morris isn't expected back on the court until sometime in mid-November for the Washington Wizards after he underwent sports hernia surgery in late September. He was in Washington's starting lineup in all 76 of his appearances in 2016-17. He finished with averages of 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Jason Smith is likely to be the team's starting power forward until Morris is ready to return.
Glenn Robinson III, Pacers
Robinson III probably won't be back for the Indiana Pacers until around the end of November after he suffered a severe left ankle sprain. The reigning Slam Dunk Contest champion appeared in 69 games (27 starts) in 2016-17 and had per game averages of 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.
Rajon Rondo, Pelicans
While there is no timetable for Rondo's return, he will see a specialist on Monday to see if he will need surgery for the sports a hernia he suffered in Friday's preseason game. It is likely that he won't be ready to start the regular season as he enters his first year as a member of the Pelicans. Last season with the Bulls, he averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game.
