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Chet Holmgren, the second pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, will miss the upcoming season with a foot injury. The OKC Thunder big suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot during a pro-am game last week in Seattle. Holmgren was guarding LeBron James in transition early in the game and rolled his right foot after an awkward landing.
It was an unfortunate incident for Holmgren, whose NBA debut was highly awaited. He was impressive during the Summer League and the pro-am games he participated in this summer.
Several other top picks in recent years unfortunately missed their first year in the league due to injuries. Here's a look at five notable names that faced the same fate as Chet Holmgren.
#1 Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid had one of the most unfortunate starts to any NBA career. Drafted with the third pick in 2014, Embiid missed his first season as he underwent surgery to repair a broken navicular bone. The surgery took place six days before the draft. The Cameroonian was set to make his debut the following year but sustained a stress fracture in his right foot in August 2015. He had to undergo surgery again.
Embiid finally made his debut in October 2016. He has made a remarkable turnaround by earning five All-Star selections and multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive team honors. Over the past few years, he has become a perennial MVP candidate and is one of the favorites to win it next season.
#2 Blake Griffin
The LA Clippers selected Blake Griffin with the first overall pick in 2009. Griffin suffered a knee injury days before the Clippers' season opener in a preseason game. The forward underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a non-displaced stress fracture in his left patella.
Griffin was expected to be back by January 2010. However, he didn't recover well and needed surgery again. This ended any hopes of him making his debut the year he was drafted.
Blake Griffin bounced back the following year, though, winning the 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year award. He has featured in six All-Star games and earned five All-NBA selections in his career so far.
#3 Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons, the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, faced a similar fate to his former teammate Joel Embiid. Simmons sustained a foot injury during a Philadelphia 76ers training session and missed his first season in the league.
The Australian guard was solid in his debut season the following year and was selected as the rookie of the year. Simmons has played in three All-Star games and has earned two All-Defensive First Team nods in his career so far.
#4 Julius Randle
The LA Lakers selected Julius Randle with the seventh pick in the 2014 draft. Unlike the players mentioned above, Randle did make his debut the year he was drafted. However, it only lasted 14 minutes. He broke his right tibia and had to undergo surgery. Randle missed the rest of the season.
The forward returned to play 81 games the following season. He hasn't missed more than 10 games in any season since, displaying remarkable durability. During the 2020-21 season, Randle became an All-Star and was selected as the most improved player of the year.
#5 Greg Oden
Greg Oden, the first overall selection in the 2007 draft, had one of the most unfortunate NBA careers ever. Injuries plagued him during his college days at Ohio State and followed him into the NBA as well. He was forced to retire in 2016.
He underwent microfracture surgery on his ailing right knee in 2007, which ruled him out for the season. Oden played 61 games the following season. He sustained multiple knee injuries within the first two months of the 2009-10 season and his career never really picked up. Oden played only 105 games across three seasons in the league between 2007 and 2014.
Guess the Lakers players!
