With the 2025–26 NBA season currently at its halfway point and the All-Star break coming to a close, the injury bug continues as several teams in the league have been without their core pieces.
With stars such as Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum not seeing a single minute of action this year, and veterans such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James out for significant stretches, this season has felt incomplete, to say the least.
With NBA action resuming on Friday, and the playoffs starting in around two months, fans are left speculating whether the league’s brightest stars will even be on stage come the postseason.
Sacramento’s Stars Out for NBA Season
As if the Sacramento Kings’ season could not get any worse with their current 12–44 record, the worst team in the NBA just had salt rubbed in its wounds as key players Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine are set to undergo season-ending surgeries.
Sabonis, who is usually known for his availability, is set to undergo surgery on his torn meniscus, which will sideline him for the rest of the season. In only 19 games played, he averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.
Meanwhile, the high-flying LaVine is also set to miss the remainder of the year to undergo surgery on his right hand. In 39 games played this season, LaVine led Sacramento’s offense, averaging 19.2 points, along with 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Franz Wagner Out Indefinitely for Orlando
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner will also miss more time for his team, as he remains out indefinitely due to a lingering high left ankle sprain.
Before suffering his injury on December 7, the 24-year-old was averaging 23.4 points to help usher the Magic to a 14–10 start, with shooting splits of 48.7/35.4/82.3.
Currently fighting for a play-in spot at a 28–25 record, Orlando will now have to rely on the leadership of franchise star Paolo Banchero in order to stay afloat and push for another NBA playoff appearance.
Kyrie Irving Remains Out for Dallas
With most Mavs fans keeping their fingers crossed for the return of their now-lone star Kyrie Irving, the team announced that he will not return to action in the 2025–26 season in order to continue recovering from the ACL injury he suffered last year.
With 15 years of experience under his belt, the 33-year-old Irving will now miss an entire season for the first time in his career.
“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right one… I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows,” Irving said in a statement.
With Dallas currently on a nine-game losing streak, its longest in 28 years, the team will now have to rely on the services of star rookie Cooper Flagg, who is also currently injured, to step into a bigger role moving forward.
