NBA’s 7 biggest injuries that shattered league-wide expectations for 2025-2026 season: Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, and more

The 2025-2026 season of the big league has seen many devastating and excruciating injuries that have made it almost impossible for the teams to put forth their 100 percent. While the players have been anticipating a season blockbuster, injuries seemed to have cut short their playing adversities. The 2025-2026 season is full of surprises, but injuries aren’t one of them; rest assured. Major or minor, as and when there have been certain casualties, a player seems to have been ruled out of the game for at least a week.

Certain players have been injured in the early months of 2025. Players such as Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard have been significantly injured. While Haliburton, Lillard, and Kyrie Irving have been totally ruled out of the 2026 season, some players have returned with full potential. From unveiling the darkest truths to some of the most excruciating injuries, here is everything you need to know about the top 7 blasphemous incidents.

Tyrese Haliburton - Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers star, Tyrese Haliburton, has been ruled out of the 2025-2026 NBA finals due to his right Achilles tendon. He injured himself during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, back in the month of July. He immediately underwent a special surgery in New York, under Dr. O’Malley. While spending an entire season with his family and now-fiancée, Jade Jones, Haliburton has started to recover from his injuries.

Jayson Tatum - Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks star Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon while playing against the New York Knicks in May. Tatum underwent surgery in New York and has not been playing since that injury. This season has brought him a miserable fate, both in terms of injuries and scores. While Tatum needs to stay focused, he has to fill in the gap for all that time when he was out of the game due to his injury.

Damian Lillard - Portland Trail Blazers

After being drafted as their number one pick, the Trail Blazers have now signed Damian Lillard to their team. However, there is one catch. Damian Lillard didn’t get a chance to play in the 2025-2026 season, even after getting drafted. He has a left Achilles injury, which he got from the first round of playoff games against the Indiana Pacers.

Dejounte Murray - New Orleans Pelicans

The early NBA season saw the downturn of the New Orleans Pelicans’ Dejounte Murray as he tore his Achilles tendon on January 31. While the NBA star is still making progress on playing this season, chances are there, that he might not return anytime soon.

Dru Smith - Miami Heat

Miami Heat player Dru Smith tore his left Achilles tendon earlier this season. He suffered this injury while playing against the Brooklyn Nets on December 23. Smith's injury was followed by immediate surgery, and he was kept out for the remaining matches.

Isaiah Jackson - Indiana Pacers

Following Tyrese Haliburton was another player, who injured his Achilles tendon on November 1 against the New Orleans Pelicans. Jackson is unlikely to play some of the matches in the 2025-26 season, along with Haliburton.

James Wisman - Indiana Pacers

The Pacers center player. James Wisman injured his left Achilles tendon and underwent surgery following this dreadful injury. Apart from this, he has also witnessed two major leg injuries in his five seasons in the big league.

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