We’re less than a week into the season, and we already have a Luka Doncic injury. He’s not the only one, as this week’s article will discuss the Doncic, De’Aaron Fox, and Anthony Edwards injuries and absences.
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Luka Doncic Injury: Who’s Not Playing in the NBA Today
Let’s examine the top three most prominent short-term but likely multi-game injuries at the moment and the ripple effect they’ll have from both a DFS and betting perspective over the next week. What other players on their teams stand to benefit the most from the absences?
We’ll also list some additional noteworthy short-term injuries at the end of today’s article:
Luka Doncic Injury Update
Outside of Victor Wembanyama’s jaw-dropping first three games, Doncic’s play was the talk of the league over the first few days of the season, as he averaged 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.0 steals across 38 minutes per game while helping the Lakers navigate the season-opening absence of LeBron James (back).
However, Doncic suddenly popped up on the injury report in his own right ahead of Sunday’s game against the Kings due to a finger sprain, and it was subsequently revealed he was also dealing with a lower leg contusion and would miss at least a week.
Austin Reaves unsurprisingly became an instant beneficiary against Sacramento, erupting for a career-high 51 points and adding 11 rebounds, nine assists, and two steals across 39 minutes.
Reaves astoundingly got to the line on 22 occasions, matching his number of shot attempts. Even though that’s seemingly unsustainable, it’s worth noting Reaves posted a 38.7% usage rate and averaged 34.2 points, 7.9 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per 36 minutes last season when not sharing the floor with any of James, Doncic, or the since-traded Anthony Davis.
Interestingly, the next-highest usage in those scenarios logged by a player that’s still on the Lakers roster belonged to Dalton Knecht (21%), who’s played just 20 total minutes over the first three games this season, but who could be in line for elevated opportunity to start the week due to injuries to Marcus Smart (quadriceps) and Gabe Vincent (ankle) in addition to Doncic.
De’Aaron Fox Injury Update
Fox suffered a hamstring injury in the latter portion of September and remains sidelined to start the first full week of the season.
The star point guard is naturally expected to play a significant role in his first full Spurs season while working in tandem with Wembanyama, but San Antonio has had to manage without him for the first three games and will continue doing so for the time being.
Stephon Castle has shifted over to point guard in Fox’s stead and is averaging 5.0 assists per game in that role over the first three games.
Meanwhile, Devin Vassell has handled shooting guard duties, and the two players sport respective 28.7% (Castle) and 20.9% (Vassell) usage rates so far in their respective roles sans Fox.
Wembanyama has been by far the biggest contributor for San Antonio, however – and that should persist even after Fox is active – putting up 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 6.0 blocks, 1.7 steals and a 34.7% usage rate over the first three games.
During the 16 games Fox played for the Spurs last season, following his trade from the Kings and before he underwent season-ending finger surgery, Castle was the team leader in usage with a 31.9% figure whenever Fox wasn’t on the floor, also contributing per-36 averages of 27.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.8 steals in that split.
Keldon Johnson (27.1% usage) was a close second, while Wembanyama checked in with just a 21.2% figure since he and Fox ultimately were active for just four games together before the big man’s season ended early due to his shoulder injury.
Anthony Edwards Injury Update
Edwards had been excellent over his first two games with 36.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 53.2% shooting, but he suffered a hamstring issue three minutes into Sunday’s game against the Pacers and is now projected to miss up to two weeks.
Terrence Shannon and Jaylen Clark could both be primed to handle the majority of shooting guard minutes in Edwards’ absence, but the bigger question is which existing starter(s) may absorb the bulk of Ant’s sizable offensive role.
The most obvious answer, and one that’s corroborated by last year’s numbers, is Julius Randle, who posted a 27.2% usage rate and per-36 averages of 25.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.6 assists with Edwards off the floor during the 2024-25 regular season.
Naz Reid, who’s opened the season in his usual robust second-unit role, was next with 25.0% usage, along with averages of 21.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks per 36 minutes.
Those numbers match what transpired in Sunday’s game that Edwards missed almost entirely, with the exception being the two big men swapped places on the usage leaderboard.
It was Reid who sported a team-high 30.7% usage rate on the night over 23 minutes off the bench, posting a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double with two assists and two steals. Meanwhile, Randle was the runner-up with 27.3% usage, as well as a team-high 31 points and six assists among his statistical contributions.
Other notable NBA injuries:
- LeBron James, LAL (back)
- Jalen Williams, Thunder (wrist)
- Paul George, PHI (knee)
- Coby White, CHI (calf)
- Darius Garland, CLE (toe)
