In the 2025/26 season, a significant number of star players missed long periods of time due to injuries. The The ESPN Insider Team took a look at these players’ upcoming returns, breaking them down by the timeline each faces.
Tyrese Halliburton (Pacers), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Kyrie Irving (Mavericks), and Fred VanVleet (Rockets) are all ready to return this fall after a season-long absence. Lillard will rejoin a Blazers team that has made major changes and faces questions about how it will all fit together. Haliburton and VanVleet are trying to get their franchises back into title contention, while Irving will be looking to gel with Cooper Flagg on a Mavs team whose long-term streak of contention could make the star point guard a prime candidate for a deal at the deadline.
Stephen Adams (Rockets), Dejounte Murray (Pelicans), Walker Kessler (Lakers), Joel Embiid (Sixers), Luka Doncic (lakers), Jaren Jackson Jr (Jazz), Trey Young (Wizards), and Jalen Williams (Thunder) all missed significant time last season but should be ready to go in October barring any setbacks.
Finally, there are players who face longer recovery times, with Jimmy Butler (Warriors) is a striking example.
We have more hoops from around the world:
- Hall of Fame Mike D’AntoniItalian-American who played and coached in Italy is set to join BC Roma’s board of directors, reports Alessandro Maggi from Sportando. D’Antoni’s return to Italy was facilitated by the former Sixers manager Brian Colangelowho is the club’s property advisor and will represent the team at Italian Basketball League meetings, Magee writes.
- After the former Celtics point guard. Isaiah Thomas took to social media to express his interest in playing abroad, Lithuanian club Zalgiris have teasingly invited the 37-year-old to come and see what their arena experience is like (Link to Twitter). However, there are no indications that there have been serious discussions between Thomas and the team, he writes Kevin Martarano for Sportando.
- Nikola Mirotic may have played his last professional game as Martaran relays La Razon reports that the 35-year-old is considering retirement after a season in which he missed a lot of time for Monaco. Mirotic has one more year left on his contract. The 6’10” forward played five seasons in the NBA from 2014 to 2019, mostly with the Bulls.