2025 NBA Fantasy Basketball Injury Review
This one hurts.
The NBA is currently dealing with an influx of their star players being injured. Below are the injured stars and the correlated injury replacement players who are benefiting from an increased workload. These lower rostered (under 50% of ESPN leagues) players could be game-changers when it comes to winning key playoff matchups.
Kyrie Irving: After Kyrie Irving’s devastating ACL tear, Spencer Dinwiddie and Brandon Williams have been the main fantasy beneficiaries for the Dallas Mavericks. Dinwiddie has had a string of strong performances as he’s put up 15.5 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 1.4 SPG on 47/33/75 shooting splits over twelve contests. Williams has also stepped up in Irving’s absence as he’s accumulated 17.1 PPG, 4.7 APG, and 1.7 SPG on 55/35/87 splits over ten games.
Ja Morant: Scotty Pippen Jr. has served as Morant’s primary backup option for multiple seasons now. Morant is currently dealing with a left hamstring sprain, leaving his return timeline up in the air. In the seven games without Morant this month, Pippen Jr. is averaging 14 PPG, 6.9 APG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.9 SPG on 51/46/92 shooting splits, showcasing his ability to fill the void during Ja’s absences.
Damian Lillard: Dame will be out for an extended period of time (potentially the rest of the season) with a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. Given this news, Gary Trent Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. are two players who could step up for Milwaukee. Trent Jr. has averaged 17.3 PPG and 1.5 SPG on 44/46/100 splits over the last four contests without Lillard. Gary will likely continue to receive more volume with Damian’s volume being vacated. While KPJ hasn’t had the same fantasy success lately, he did start in Milwaukee’s most recent game, where he went for 12 PTS (5-15 FG), 8 REB, 7 AST, and 30 MIN. Porter Jr. has a triple-double moving forward if he can keep seeing north of 25 minutes a game.
Paul George: Since George is out for the season, look for Justin Edwards to take on a larger all-around role for the 76ers. Edwards has thrived for Philly with more minutes as he’s gone for 20.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 1.7 SPG on 49/48/73 shooting splits over his last six games. Philadelphia’s tanking ways should allow Justin to sustain a high workload for the remainder of the year.
Joel Embiid: With Embiid out for the year and Andre Drummond currently without a return timeline, Guerschon Yabusele and Adem Bona have both seen an increase in workload and volume. In Yabusele’s last four games, he is averaging 16.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 3.3 APG on 54% from the field. Bona has also been effective recently as he’s put up 10.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.5 BPG, and 1 SPG over his last five contests. Given Embiid’s large body of work, Guerschon and Adem can both benefit from a fantasy perspective for the remainder of the season.
Bradley Beal: Since Beal has been sidelined with a left hamstring strain, Ryan Dunn has stepped up for the Suns. Prior to Beal’s injury, Ryan had been seeing little to no minutes nightly. After the injury, Dunn has not only started but provided value for Phoenix as he’s put up 12.9 PPG, 6 RPG, 1.7 SPG, and 26.9 MPG on 45% from the field and 35% from deep over his last seven games.
Nicholas Misurelli - Fantasy Basketball Insider
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Robbin Marx
NBA Fantasy Analyst
Experience: NBC Sports - Rotoworld, HashTag Basketball, Bleav Network
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