Top 5 players making a comeback from injury in the 2021-22 NBA season

Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors.
Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors.

We're coming off one of the most dramatic NBA seasons in terms of stars getting injured. Hopefully, the 2021-22 NBA season will be equally epic, but with all the great players on the court in key moments.

After a rough year on the players' bodies, we're expecting several stars to return to NBA action in the 2021-22 campaign and give us a nightly competitive show.

Even the most durable star of all time, LeBron James, has been caught by the unfortunate injury bug in two of the last three seasons, and we hope that is not the case for any player next year, whether it is an All-Star or a role player.

Five stars who should return from injury with a bang in the 2021-22 NBA season

Of course, injuries have always determined several events in an NBA season, but last year, with so many games in a small timeline, injuries seemed to be coming at us too fast.

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In this article, we will give you the top five players expected to return from injuries at some point in the 2021-22 NBA season and primed to make huge impact for their teams.

Without further ado, let us start.


#5 Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks to shoot.
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks to shoot.

Towards the end of the 2020-21 NBA season, which was Jaylen Brown's best season in the NBA yet, the Boston Celtics' shooting guard suffered a left wrist injury and missed the team's last seven regular-season games, the Play-In tournament and the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

He underwent surgery in May to repair a torn ligament in his wrist and all pointed towards a complete recovery for the team's training camp for the 2021-22 NBA season.

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Brown should be ready for the start of the 2021-22 NBA campaign and provide the Boston Celtics a great display of talent. Last year, Brown made it toe his first All-Star Game and averaged 24.7 points (career-high), six rebounds and 3.4 assists per game with 48/39/76 shooting splits.


#4 Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets.
Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets.

Kyrie Irving quietly had a 50-40-90 season in last year's regular round for the stacked Brooklyn Nets with 26.9 points per night. Although he missed several games due to personal reasons during the regular season, which was described as mental health issues, Irving was the member of Brooklyn's 'Big Three' (with Kevin Durant and James Harden) who played most games in the season, with 54 appearances.

Unfortunately for him, Irving's run in the 2021 NBA Playoffs ended in Game 4 of the second round against the Milwaukee Bucks. Irving suffered an unlucky fall and twisted his right ankle awkwardly, effectively ending his season.

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While his injury was not a matter of a long-term situation, it definitely occurred in the worst possible moment. Irving should definitely come back strong in the 2021-22 campaign and provide the Brooklyn Nets with great play in the upcoming campaign.

#3 Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers leaves the game in the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns.
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers leaves the game in the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns.

The LA Lakers could not defend their 2020 NBA championship successfully in the 2020-21 NBA season, and we could not start explaining why without taking into consideration the injuries suffered by their two superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

First, Davis appeared in only half of the 72-game regular season for the LA Lakers with aggravated right Achilles tendinosis and a calf strain. After looking quite well in the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns, he suffered a groin injury that effectively ended his season and the LA Lakers', although he tried to return for the sixth and final game of the series without success.

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Davis should be ready for the 2021-22 NBA season and the revamped LA Lakers' roster should be highly competitive in the upcoming season and possibly look at a second NBA title in three years.


#2 Jamal Murray

Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets.
Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets.

Jamal Murray exploded as a star-like guard in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, helping the Denver Nuggets upset the LA Clippers and reach the 2020 Western Finals. He played steadily well for the team during the 2020-21 NBA season, but his season ended on April 12th.

In the late stages of a game against the Golden State Warriors, Murray fell awkwardly and suffered an ACL tear in his left knee.

The team suffered Murray's absence and could still suffer at the start of the upcoming NBA season. Murray could be back for January, although there has not been an official timetable provided by the Denver Nuggets.

Last year, Murray averaged 21.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game with 47/40/86 shooting splits in 48 games.


#1 Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors greets teammates.
Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors greets teammates.

Klay Thompson has missed the last two NBA seasons entirely after a couple strokes of bad luck hit him hard. Thompson fell out of the 2019 NBA Finals with an ACL tear in his left knee that forced him to sit out the entire 2019-20 NBA season.

While preparing for the 2020-21 NBA season and a grand return to the Golden State Warriors' dynamic and possibly competing for an NBA championship, Thompson suffered a right Achilles injury and, again, missed another full season.

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Thompson could be back late in 2021 or sometime in 2022, but he is expected to play in the 2021-22 NBA season with the Golden State Warriors, although the franchise will and should not rush him back after such a long absence.

He is a two-time All-NBA player and five-time All-Star and, at 31 years old, Thompson could fully return and still be the great two-way player he was for three championship-winning Golden State teams.


Also read: What is Kyrie Irving’s expected NBA 2K22 rating?

Warriors Nation! You can check out the latest Golden State Warriors Schedule and dive into the Warriors Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.

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Edited by Arnav Kholkar
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