NBA's All-Injured Team

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 2, 2009

NBA's All-Injured Team

Gilbert Arenas | Wizards guard

The NBA has been hit hard by the serious injuries and extended absences of big-name players, so much so that it's not easy paring the list to a 12-man team heading into March. For their part, the Wizards have been down two starters all season: center Brendan Haywood (thumb) and Arenas, who has begun to step up his rehab efforts from a third knee surgery, which he underwent in September, two months after signing a six-year, $111 million contract. There is no timetable for his (or Haywood's) return.

Tracy McGrady | Rockets guard

After struggling with a sore left knee all season, McGrady opted to have season-ending microfracture surgery Feb. 24. The 12-year veteran shot a career-low 38.8 percent from the field in 35 games this season, and his 15.6-point scoring average was his lowest since 1999-2000.

Amar'e Stoudemire | Suns forward

One day after standing pat at the Feb. 19 trade deadline, and with eight weeks left in the regular season, the Suns announced that their All-Star power forward would be sidelined about eight weeks because of surgery to repair a partially detached retina in his right eye. That has left Phoenix to fight for a playoff spot without its leading scorer and second-leading rebounder.

Elton Brand | 76ers forward

Lou Capozzola/SI

The $80 million man started sluggishly with his new team, missed 16 games, returned for six games as a reserve and then shut it down for good to have shoulder surgery Feb. 9.

Andrew Bynum | Lakers center

In early February, the Western Conference leaders lost their prized 7-footer for two to three months with a torn knee ligament. In the five games before he suffered the injury at Memphis, Bynum had averaged 26.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks.

Jameer Nelson | Magic guard

Fresh off being named to the All-Star team for the first time, Nelson's breakout season was halted when he injured his shoulder against Dallas on Feb. 2. Nelson had season-ending surgery for a torn labrum Feb. 19, the same day Orlando acquired his replacement, Rafer Alston, in a trade with Houston.

Al Jefferson | Timberwolves center

The fifth-year center's All-Star-worthy season (23.1 points, 11 rebounds) ended when he tore his right ACL at New Orleans on Feb. 8.

Michael Redd | Bucks guard

Redd sustained torn ligaments in his left knee against Sacramento on Jan. 24, leaving Milwaukee without its leading scorer and one of the NBA's best perimeter shooters.

Andrew Bogut | Bucks center

Less than two weeks after Michael Redd's ACL tear, Milwaukee's starting center was lost for at least two months with a stress fracture in his back. Bogut, the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft, who signed a five-year, $60 million deal last offseason, was averaging 11.7 points and 10.3 rebounds.

Jason Terry | Mavericks guard

The Jet had established himself as the Sixth Man Award front-runner when he broke his left hand against Sacramento on Feb. 10. Terry, averaging 19.9 points, was expected to return in early March.

Chris Kaman | Clippers center

Kaman has been out since late November with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, one of many reasons the Clippers are challenging for the NBA's worst record. The 7-footer, who averaged career highs of 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds last season, could return in March.

Monta Ellis | Warriors guard

The explosive scorer missed the first half of the season after having offseason ankle surgery following a moped accident. Ellis returned to play 13 games before needing time off to rest his sore left ankle.