It used to be that playing all 82 regular season games was a badge of honor for NBA players. But those days seem long gone, with more and more players willing to take games off for the sake of rest. Then again, in the case of some NBA stars, they really do need some rest because they either have a compendium of ailments or have a recurring injury. The ultimate losers, in this case, are the fans, who are deprived of seeing some of the NBA’s best doing their thing on the court for long stretches at a time.
With that in mind, we have thought of five NBA players we’d love to see more of this 2024–2025 NBA season because they are either all-world caliber, fantasy studs, or just downright spectacular.
Check out our list:
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Injuries just seem to hound Embiid, so much so that he has not played over 70 games in his career—one that has proven to be stellar when he is on the court. Last season, he only played 39 games for the Sixers but was outstanding, posting per-game averages of 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks. Put simply, that’s all-world production fans are missing out on when Embiid’s on the sidelines and not on the court. And, for the sake of Philly fans, in particular, a full season from their big man might be what’s needed for the team to make a real championship push.
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Morant has missed nearly half of the Grizzlies’ 400 regular season games in the years he has been with the team, getting sidelined due to either injuries or off-court issues. But when he does play, he can be mesmerizing and prolific all at the same time, putting up superstar-level numbers—25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in the nine games he played last season—and bringing a breathtaking degree of excitement to every game. Besides, Memphis with Morant is not only more watchable but is also a legitimate playoff contender.
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
One of the poster boys of the NBA’s load management problem, Leonard has missed 278 games in his career, playing in only 696 out of a possible 974 regular season games. And it is probably wishful thinking that he will play more this year, as he has been ruled out indefinitely to start this season due to his lingering knee issue. It would be a shame because when he is playing, The Klaw is about as good a two-way player as any in the NBA as evidenced by the 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals he normed last season.
Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls
Ball is another player who has not had any luck with his health. Things went from bad to worse these last two years, as the former lottery pick missed both the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons due to knee problems. He isn’t a superstar like Embiid, Morant, and Leonard, but he impacts the game both ways—11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.6 steals for his career—and is the orchestrator the Bulls have sorely missed recently. And, really, after going through so many knee procedures and endless rehab, Ball just simply deserves some dose of good health.
Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets
Simmons has played less and less since playing 81 games as a rookie back in the 2017–2018. His play has regressed as well, with the former first-overall pick looking like a shell of his former self in recent years—uncertain of what to do and seemingly unsure of himself. But when he is healthy and locked in, Simmons is an all-around contributor, averaging 13.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.4 steals for his career. Besides, he will have his chances in Brooklyn with the Nets looking like a lottery team again.
Other players we thought of were Zion Williamson (184 games missed out of a possible 318), Paul George (92 games missed in the last four seasons), and Jamal Murray (134 games missed in the last four seasons).
How about you, which players do you want playing more games this 2024–2025 NBA season? Do let us know!
