Welcome to the 2023-2024 fantasy basketball season, and we have you covered on the latest in injury news before the season tips off on Tuesday night. Make sure that you are checking Fantasy Alarm and your rosters for injury updates for your players multiple times a day. This is the week in which players should be at their healthiest all season, but we have seen important injury news break over the weekend that will affect some big name players. Here are the latest NBA injuries for week 1 of the fantasy basketball season.

 

2023-24 NBA Injury Report Fantasy Basketball Week 1

Point Guard Injury News

Luka Doncic, PG, Dallas Mavericks (Calf)


Coach Jason Kidd said that Luka Doncic remains without a timetable for return after a calf injury he suffered this summer. He has started work on the basketball court but is nowhere near contact play yet. In his absence, Kyrie Irving should take over point guard duties which opens up opportunities for Tim Hardaway Jr., Seth Curry, and Jaden Hardy. 

Lonzo Ball, PG, Chicago Bulls (Knee)

Ball will miss the entire 2023-2024 season after another knee surgery in March. He does plan to play again if healing progresses as it should following the procedure. 

Monte Morris, PG, Detroit Pistons (Back)

Monte Morris won't play in the Wizards' season opener Wednesday due to a back injury. Killian Hayes should be the primary backup for Cade Cunningham. 

Killian Hayes, PG, Detroit Pistons (Knee)

Hayes is healed from a prior knee injury and will play when the Pistons open their season on Wednesday. He will be the backup to Cade Cunningham as long as Monte Morris is out. 

Cameron Payne, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (Thigh)

Payne suffered a thigh contusion during Milwaukee's preseason game on Friday and is considered day-to-day as of Sunday night. 

Jose Alvarado, PG, New Orleans Pelicans (Ankle)

In their latest practice, Jose Alvarado only participated in the non-contact portion of the session and is considered day-to-day for the start of the regular season. 

Shooting Guard Injury News

Zach LaVine, SG, Chicago Bulls (Illness)

Zach LaVine did not play in the Bulls' preseason finale against Minnesota due to an illness but is believed to be fully ready for the start of the regular season. 

Christian Braun, SG, Denver Nuggets (Knee)

Christian Braun is no longer suffering any affects from a knee injury, and will play in Denver's first game on Tuesday, according to Coach Mike Malone. 

John Konchar, SG, Memphis Grizzlies (Personal)

John Konchar missed the Grizzlies' preseason finale due to a personal matter and is considered day-to-day. His status for the regular season opener this week is unknown at this time. 

Josh Richardson, SG, Miami Heat (Foot)

Josh Richardson had an MRI on his ailing foot, but the results came back negative. His status for the regular season is day-to-day. Should Richardson not be able to play, Duncan Robinson would see more time as the primary backup to Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler. 

James Harden, SG, Philadelphia 76ers (Personal)

Harden remains away from Philadelphia as the regular season approaches and the belief is he will not be with the team for the regular season opener on Thursday. Harden's absence would allow Tyrese Maxey to shift over to the shooting guard spot and open up a ton of playing time and shots for De'Anthony Melton. 

Damion Lee, SG, Phoenix Suns (Knee)

Lee underwent a knee procedure to clean up his right meniscus and has no timetable for return. Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen will serve as the primary guard backups for Phoenix behind Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. 

Landry Shamet, SG, Washington Wizards (Toe) 

Landry Shamet suffered a broken big toe in mid-October and is expected to miss up to two to four weeks, according to reports. He is very unlikely to play in this opening week. Delon Wright and Corey Krispert are the backup guards for Washington in the interim. 

Small Forward Injury News

Michael Porter Jr., SF, Denver Nuggets (Ankle)

Michael Porter Jr. is recovered from a preseason ankle injury and will play in Denver's opening game on Tuesday night. 

Vlatko Cancar, SF, Denver Nuggets (Knee)

Cancar had surgery for a left knee injury on August 17th and is out indefinitely. Justin Holiday is the primary backup at small forward for the Denvery Nuggets.

Bojan Bogdanovic, SF, Detroit Pistons (Calf)

Bojan Bogdanovic has already been ruled out for the Pistons' opener on Wednesday night due to a lingering calf injury. In his absence, both Alec Burks and electric rookie Ausar Thompson should see a sharp increase in playing time to start the season. 

Tari Eason, SF, Houston Rockets (Leg)

Tari Eason suffered a stress reaction in his left leg over the weekend and will be shut down for 2-3 weeks before he is reevaluated. His absence should mean more minutes for reserves Jae'Sean Tate and Cam Whitmore. 

Jimmy Butler, SF, Miami Heat (Dental Procedure)

Jimmy Butler missed Friday's preseason finale against Houston on Friday for a dental procedure, but all signs point to him being ready to open the regular season this week. 

Naji Marshall, SF, New Orleans Pelicans (Knee)

Marshall is dealing with a bone bruise in his knee and will not take the court for 2-3 weeks when he will be reevaluated. As the primary backup to Zion Williamson, look for Larry Nance to chew up a few more minutes as he backs up both Zion and Jonas Valanciunas. 

Scottie Barnes, SF, Toronto Raptors (Ankle)

Scottie Barnes practiced in full after suffering an ankle injury last week. He has removed his brace and has declared his ankle to be “fine” for the regular season. 

Kyle Kuzma, SF, Washington Wizards (Calf)

Kyle Kuzma suffered an injury being called a calf contusion last weekend, has declared himself ready for the season opener on Wednesday. He missed two games with the contusion, but the absence was thought to be more of a precaution with the season approaching. 

Power Forward Injury News

Isaiah Livers, PF, Detroit Piston (Ankle)

Liver suffered a very serious ankle sprain on October 2 and is expected to miss six to eight weeks with the Grade III sprain. With the backup power forward spot open for several weeks, Marvin Bagley is likely to move into that role with James Wiseman taking the backup center role during that time. 

Draymond Green, PF, Golden State Warriors (Ankle)

Draymond Green, dealing with an ankle injury, was cleared to resume workouts and practice on Tuesday last week. All indications are that he will be ready to open up the season with the starters on Tuesday night. 

Jarred Vanderbilt, PF, Los Angeles Lakers (Heel)

Jarred Vanderbilt has officially been listed as Questionable for the Tuesday night opener with his heel injury. With Vanderbilt dealing with injury the Lakers have announced that Taurean Price will draw the start. If Vanderbilt misses time, Rui Hachimura and Christian Wood will fill in the front court reserve spots. 

Jaden McDaniels, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves (Calf)

The calf injury suffered by McDaniels on October 14th has not fully healed and he is day-to-day to begin the regular season for Minnesota. The original prognosis was a 7-10-day period before reevaluation, so there should be a more firm update before the game. 

Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Oklahoma City Thunder (Ankle)

Aleksej Pokusevski has an ankle injury that will keep him out of the season opener for Oklahoma City, but the team said it was accelerating better than they had hoped it would. He is expected to be ready by the second week of the season. Ousmane Dieng may steal some backup minutes until Poku returns. 

Trey Lyles, PF, Sacramento Kings (Calf)

Lyles suffered a minor calf strain on Friday that will keep him out of work for a few days. His status for the opener on Wednesday is unknown, but he should be considered day-to-day. Sasha Vezenkov and Alex Len are expected to see the bulk of the frontcourt reserve minutes should Lyles be out. 

Anthony Gill, PF, Washington Wizards (Hamstring)

Anthony Gill suffered a hamstring strain in the preseason game last Tuesday and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks of the regular season. Gill was not projected to play a major role in the rotation. 

Center Injury News

Andre Drummond, C, Chicago Bulls (Personal)

Drummond missed the Chicago Bulls' preseason game on Thursday due to personal reasons and he is considered day-to-day ahead of the beginning of the season. Adama Sanogo would be the favorite for backup center minutes if Drummond misses time. 

Jarrett Allen, C, Cleveland Cavaliers (Ankle)

Jarrett Allen did not suit up for Cleveland's last game of the preseason on Friday as he attempts to heal up for the regular season opener. Allen is day-to-day until an official injury report is released and would cede time to Damian Jones if he were to miss any time. 

Steven Adams, C, Memphis Grizzlies (Knee)

It was announced on Sunday that Steven Adams will have season-ending surgery on his ailing knee, but is expected to make a full recovery for the 2024-2025 season. The most logical lineup adjustment now is for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman Sr. to share minutes at the power forward and center positions. Expect Santi Aldama to get a lot of backup minutes now. 

Jaylin Williams, F/C, Oklahoma City Thunder (Hamstring)

Not to be confused with starter Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams was scheduled to play a lot of backup center minutes behind Chet Holmgren before a hamstring strain that will sideline him for a couple of weeks. Ousmane Dieng is the primary backup at both big spots for the Thunder. 

Montrezl Harrell, C, Philadelphia 76ers (Knee)

Harrell will miss the 2023-2024 season after undergoing ACL repair surgery in August. Paul Reed and Mo Bamba are the backup big men in Philadelphia for 2023-2024. 

Robert Williams III, C, Portland Trail Blakers (Knee)

The Blazers head coach, Chauncey Billups, announced on Wednesday that he expects Robert Williams to be ready to play for the opening game on Wednesday after battling nagging knee injuries over the summer. The oft-injured big man is scheduled to back up Deandre Ayton in Portland and would be replaced by Kris Murray or Jabari Walker if he missed much time.