Devin Booker
January 2026
Booker will be sidelined for at least a week after spraining his right ankle against Atlanta and will be re-evaluated in one week. The injury occurred late in the third quarter after he stepped on Onyeka Okongwu’s foot. Jalen Green also felt right hamstring tightness again in the same game, with the team hoping it is not long-term.
Jonathan Kuminga
January 2026
Kuminga will miss more time after suffering a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee, with re-evaluation timing to be set in coming days. He was injured at Dallas and had imaging on Friday. He had only just re-entered the rotation after Jimmy Butler’s season-ending injury.
Denver Nuggets
January 2026
The Nuggets vs Grizzlies game was postponed because of inclement weather in Memphis, with a new date to be announced. The NBA announced the postponement and said the rescheduled date is to be determined.
Luka Doncic
January 2026
Doncic said the Dallas return felt easier emotionally than last year as he posted 33 points and 11 assists and the Lakers beat the Mavericks 116-110, continuing his unbeaten run against Dallas since the trade. He briefly walked toward the wrong locker at halftime before turning back, and noted lingering emotions while acknowledging support from fans and people in Dallas. The crowd response was calmer than earlier in the season, with “MVP” chants replacing prior “Fire Nico” chants tied to resentment over the trade.
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.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
January 2026
Antetokounmpo reinjured his right calf and expects a 4–6 week absence based on prior experience, with Rivers calling the recurring issue concerning as Milwaukee sit outside the play-in spots. Giannis played through reduced explosiveness until he could not move late, then exited. He missed eight games earlier this season with a similar calf problem and had been on minutes restrictions since returning.
Derrick Rose
January 2026
Rose’s No. 1 jersey will be raised to the rafters, placing him alongside franchise icons, closing a loop on a hometown journey that began with the Bulls winning the 2008 draft lottery at 1.7% odds. The piece traces Rose’s Chicago roots, Simeon success, Memphis one-and-done rise, instant NBA impact as 2009 Rookie of the Year, and a signature 36-point playoff debut in Boston that announced him as a franchise cornerstone.
Jonathan Kuminga
January 2026
Kuminga injured his left ankle and knee on a drive against Dallas and will undergo imaging, adding uncertainty to Golden State’s rotation after Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL tear. Kuminga stayed in briefly after the incident, then exited and did not return; Kerr confirmed an MRI while noting Kuminga had just re-entered the rotation after a month out, prompted by Butler’s injury.
Kawhi Leonard
January 2026
Leonard returned after missing three games and scored 24 points as the Clippers beat the Lakers 112-104. He slotted back in immediately, continuing a high-scoring run and maintaining a season average cited as a career best through 30 games.
Bub Carrington
January 2026
Carrington is set to play his 125th straight regular-season NBA game, the fourth-longest active streak in the league, and a rare mark for a 20-year-old who has not missed a pro game. He attributes the streak to routine, love of playing, and a work ethic shaped by family, including early conditioning drills and relentless training habits. He recently became one of few players to reach 500 rebounds and 500 assists before age 21, while teammates describe his consistency as core to his identity.
