Ja Morant
January 2026
Morant is expected to miss at least the next three weeks after spraining the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, another disruption in a season where he has played 20 of 43 games. The injury happened in the loss to the Hawks and was confirmed by the team, with a re-evaluation timeline set. It follows a recent calf absence and continues an interrupted campaign amid ongoing trade speculation.
Devin Booker
January 2026
Booker suffered a painful right ankle roll late in the third quarter after landing on Okongwu’s foot, while Green was removed early as a precaution due to tightness in just his second game back from a long hamstring absence. Booker walked off under his own power but was clearly limited; the Suns plan full assessment after returning to Phoenix. Coaches framed Green’s exit as preventative, given his recent recovery and heavy rehab workload.
Los Angeles Lakers
January 2026
Lakers produced their most complete performance with season-high threes and assists, but the same volatility showed up with turnovers and mid-game lapses, raising the consistency question again. A pregame meeting reset focus, stars drove playmaking, then fatigue and pace triggered a shaky stretch before a big fourth-quarter close, with Redick pointing to daily commitment as the gap between ceiling games and week-to-week reliability.
Trae Young
January 2026
Young was introduced to Wizards fans during a loss but did not play due to knee and quadriceps issues, with his return date unclear. Washington acquired him without giving up draft picks, sending CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to Atlanta. The Wizards say the long-term rebuild continues, with Young expected to help organize and elevate their young core once healthy.
Trae Young
January 2026
Reports say Trae Young is heading to Washington in a major trade, with CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert moving to Atlanta as both teams reshuffle early in 2026. Young and the Wizards’ incoming players were held out as reports emerged. Atlanta officials avoided details postgame. The move follows heavy trade chatter, with Young’s contract situation and Atlanta’s record without him adding context.
Anthony Edwards
January 2026
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) left the bench and headed to the locker room during a fourth-quarter timeout in a 126-102 loss at the Atlanta Hawks, after starters were pulled with the game out of reach. He scored 30 points and did not speak postgame. Coach Chris Finch said Edwards should have stayed to support teammates, calling the exit unacceptable. The moment followed another recent incident where Edwards was ejected in overtime at Denver for arguing calls. Frustration was heightened with friends and family in attendance in Atlanta.
Victor Wembanyama
December 2025
Victor Wembanyama recorded his 100th straight regular-season game with at least one block, joining Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo in an elite group. He finished with 26 points, 12 assists and two blocks as the Spurs cruised to a dominant win over Atlanta. Wembanyama’s streak, dating back to January 2024, continued with standout rejections on Dyson Daniels and Asa Newell, pushing his season tally to 51 blocks despite missing 12 games through a calf strain. His rim protection and all-round impact have powered San Antonio to a much faster 20th win than last year.
Trae Young
December 2025
Trae Young will return to the Atlanta Hawks lineup against the Charlotte Hornets after missing nearly two months with a sprained right MCL, having originally gone down on October 29 following a five game start that saw him average 17.8 points and 7.8 assists. Atlanta have gone 13 wins and nine losses without their four time All Star, who led the league in assists last season, and they now hope his playmaking lift can push a 15-12 team higher in the East as he eases back under minutes management.
Philadelphia 76ers
December 2025
The NBA fined the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for misreporting Joel Embiid’s status before their game against Atlanta, after listing the star center as out on the official injury report and then playing him, breaching league rules on accurate availability disclosure. The sanction factors in previous offences by the franchise under the same policy and underscores the league’s push for transparency in medical reporting, particularly in an era of load management and gambling partnerships, with the Sixers now on notice that repeat violations will be punished more severely.
Joel Embiid
December 2025
Joel Embiid came back to the Sixers lineup against Atlanta, logging 18 points in 30 minutes after right knee soreness kept him out for nine games, but his return was not enough as Philadelphia lost 142-134 in a draining double-overtime battle. Cleared after a pregame workout, Embiid joined Paul George and Tyrese Maxey in the starting five for the first time this season, continuing a career marked by elite production and repeated injuries soon after signing a three-year, $193 million extension that begins next season.