The 2024–2025 NBA season concluded with an intense postseason that fans will remember for years, but it was also marked by a troubling wave of injuries affecting some of the league’s top stars. Among the most significant was Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a devastating Achilles injury during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, leaving the Indiana Pacers without their standout player and helping the Oklahoma City Thunder capture their first championship.
This injury joins others, including those sustained by Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Kyrie Irving, who are all expected to miss substantial time in the upcoming 2025–26 NBA season. These setbacks have raised concerns about the impact on the league’s competition and marketability.
Stephen A. Smith Highlights the Severity of Key Player Injuries
Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith addressed these injuries on his YouTube show, emphasizing the magnitude of losing such important players for the entire next season. Smith focused on the vulnerability of stars like Haliburton, Tatum, Lillard, and Irving, underlining the widespread effects on teams and fans.
Look at this right here, y’all. Tyrese Haliburton, Achilles. Jayson Tatum, Achilles. Damian Lillard, Achilles,
Smith began.
Kyrie Irving, ACL. Those first three are probably going to be out for the whole season. Kyrie gonna be out for most of the season.
—Stephen A. Smith, NBA Analyst
Smith noted the immense blow these absences represent for the league, stressing how crucial these players are to the NBA’s global appeal.
We’re starting next NBA season, the 25-26 season, without those four guys. That is not good, and the NBA, a global iconic brand, the NBA needs them players. People love the NBA in the world over, but we need those players. It’s a damn shame,
he said.
Star Power Missing From Next Season’s Roster
Jayson Tatum, recognized as one of the premier players and a recent cover athlete for NBA 2K, remains one of the league’s brightest talents despite his injury. Tyrese Haliburton emerged as a standout performer in the playoffs before his injury, while Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving, though veterans, continue to be among the game’s best. Their combined absence underscores the challenges the league faces as these superstars undergo lengthy recoveries, possibly sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season.
Smith expressed his deep disappointment about the situation, sharing a sense of loss for fans eager to see these players perform.
It’s painful to watch those injuries,
he admitted.
I mean, Kyrie is a spectacular talent. This is a superstar player and a champion. We want to see him. Damian Lillard. We know what a closer he is; we want to see him. Jayson Tatum is a champion and a 27 PPG scorer…we want to see him. And all three of them are out. For most, if not all, of next season.
—Stephen A. Smith, NBA Analyst
Pace of Play and Physical Toll Are Contributing Factors
Lakers coach J.J. Redick recently pointed out that the NBA’s current fast pace contributes to the frequency of injuries, a perspective that Stephen A. Smith agreed with during his commentary. Unlike previous decades, when the game had a slower tempo and fewer injuries, today’s players face relentless physical demands through an intense 82-game regular season.
Right now, it’s looking like he has a point. Look at the injuries we’re witnessing,
Smith added, relating the grueling demands on players’ bodies to the surge in serious injuries.
Haliburton’s Injury Evokes Memories of Kevin Durant’s 2019 Achilles Tear
Haliburton’s injury was particularly heartbreaking to Smith, who had been impressed with the guard’s playoff performance before the setback.
Damn it was sad when I saw Haliburton go down. Broke my heart, cause I wanted to see a healthy Haliburton on the court making noise,
Smith shared, recalling the player’s promising contributions before the injury.
Additionally, the way Haliburton’s Achilles injury occurred drew comparisons to Kevin Durant’s own tear during the 2019 playoffs, with the mechanics of the injury strikingly similar.
Sure enough, he goes down in Game 7, and the injury was very eerily reminiscent of how Kevin Durant went down against Toronto in that Game 5. The cav just rolled up the way it did, and the Achilles tore.
—Stephen A. Smith, NBA Analyst
Hope for Recovery and the NBA’s Future Without These Stars
Despite the severity of these injuries, there is some optimism as fans recall Kevin Durant’s successful return to elite competition after a similar Achilles injury. While not every player will replicate Durant’s recovery, the precedent provides hope for Haliburton, Tatum, and Lillard to eventually regain their status as top talents.
Until then, the NBA will enter the 2025-26 season without several of its brightest stars, raising questions about which players will rise to fill the void. As the league navigates this challenging period, the resilience and depth of its teams will be tested more than ever.