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The 2020-21 NBA season was filled with injuries, with many superstars who could have helped their teams to deep championship runs being sidelined. Perhaps the outcome of the 2021 NBA Finals would have been different if players were not dropping like flies at the tail-end of the season.
Nevertheless, the thought of these players returning and competing builds anticipation for the 2021-22 NBA season. An early return is undoubtedly desired as teams that get off to an early start have a good chance of reaching the postseason.
The LA Lakers lost Anthony Davis during the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs, which deeply affected their campaign. LeBron James was still in recovery from an ankle injury and was also not 100%. King James was eliminated in the first round for the first time in his career, and fans cannot help but wonder if the result would have been different if both players were healthy.
The same goes for the Brooklyn Nets, who lost Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the conference semi-finals and eventually fell to the Milwaukee Bucks. Kevin Durant's efforts were not enough to rally the Nets to a victory in the series.
Although the aforementioned players have all made full recoveries and will be available to start the 2021-22 NBA season, there are a few players who are yet to recover.
Without further ado, here are the five most anticipated players returning from injury in the 2021-22 NBA season.
#5 Markelle Fultz
Markelle Fultz tore his ACL after a hot start to the 2020-21 NBA campaign. He led the Orlando Magic to a 6-2 run after eight games. Although his numbers were not shooting off the roof, he proved that he was an integral piece for the Magic.
Following his unavailability, the Orlando Magic embraced a full rebuild and traded three of their veteran players on deadline day.
The 23-year-old is still on the sidelines but is looking forward to making a full recovery sometime this season. Given the nature of the injury, he might be out until at least December 1.
#3 Victor Oladipo
Victor Oladipo has struggled with injuries since the 2018-19 NBA season, featuring in only 88 games in the last three seasons. He was traded to the Miami Heat on deadline day and featured in only four games before re-aggravating his right quadriceps tendon injury.
However, the guard is expected to make a return by November at the earliest.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Glashow spoke with ESPN about Oladipo's surgery and said:
"I repaired the quad tendon and did it a little differently than [he had] it done before. I'm very optimistic that I could clear him in six months, by November. I think he's going to play really well again ... [The surgery] went extremely well, and it's healing beautifully. I'm confident he'll play next year."
Also Read: Who is Klay Thompson’s girlfriend, Laura Harrier?
#3 Jamal Murray
Another high-profile injury in the NBA worth keeping an eye on is that of Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray. He tore his ACL in a match against the Golden State Warriors in April 2021 and has been unavailable since then. For injuries like these, there is no time frame for a return as it solely depends on how the player feels.
It will take 2-9 months to fully recover from ACL surgery but given the movements that NBA players, especially guards, are expected to perform, it might take a while longer.
Murray has also said that he is willing to wait it out no matter how frustrating it may be. Speaking to the press on media day, he said:
“I want to feel good when I come back. I don’t want to come back when I’m like 85%, whatever, no matter where the team’s at. I want to come back when it feels like I can play with the same amount of force that I normally play with.”
Murray is expected to be out until at least March 2, 2022. Until then, the team will rely on Nikola Jokic to orchestrate the offense.
#2 Kawhi Leonard
The last time Kawhi Leonard took the court was during the 2021 NBA playoffs Western Conference semi-finals, where he pulled up short while driving to the rim in Game 4. Reports stated that he partially tore his right ACL, an injury he has since received surgery for.
As things stand, there is no timeline for Kawhi's return, but he might be out until at least February 2022. Even so, the LA Clippers have committed to the forward long-term by signing a four-year $176.3 million contract.
#1 Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson's return is undoubtedly the most anticipated in the NBA right now as the shooting guard has missed two consecutive seasons due to injuries.
In the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, Thompson sustained an ACL injury to his left knee and was sidelined for the entire 2019-20 NBA season. The 31-year-old was set to make a return last season, but he picked up an Achilles injury in the 2020 offseason during training.
Thompson's return will be a boost for the Golden State Warriors because of what the 6'6" guard brings on both ends of the court. However, they will have to play without him for a while longer until at least December 25.
