Quick updates on the NBA's most notable injuries -- what's wrong, how it happened, and when we can expect these guys back on the hardwood.
December 5, 2009 - Portland center
Greg Oden fractured the patella (kneecap) in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season. Oden jumped when attempting to block an Aaron Brooks layup attempt, then crumpled to the ground upon landing.
November 16, 2009 - The details on Chris Paul's
ankle injury have been spotty at best. An MRI revealed no structural damage, but team sources told Yahoo! Sports that Paul could be on crutches for two weeks, and miss three-four weeks in total.
November 16, 2009 - The Sixers will be without second-year big man Mareese Speights until after the new year, due to a partial tear of the
medial collateral ligament in Speights' left knee. Speights has been serving as the Sixers' sixth man and has been one of the most effective "bigs" in Eddie Jordan's rotation. It will be interesting to see if the injury will give Elton Brand a boost; the former all-star has been ineffective, even when healthy, since joining the Sixers before last season.
November 16, 2009 - A
stress fracture in Outlaw's left foot will sideline the versatile forward for six-to-eight weeks. The injury will have a significant impact on Portland's rotation, as Outlaw's ability to play power forward was key to their "small" lineup. Veteran Juwan Howard may see more minutes while Outlaw heals.
November 6, 2009 - Sacramento Kings guard and leading scorer Kevin Martin will opt for surgery to correct the hairline fracture in his left wrist, TNT's David Aldridge reports. Martin will be sidelined for up to two months. This leaves the struggling Kings even more short-handed in the backcourt, having already lost key reserve Francisco Garcia to a broken arm suffered in a freak weightlifting accident. Rookie guard Tyreke Evans will shift to Martin's shooting guard spot while Martin is on the mend, and last year's starter at the point, Beno Udrih, will re-claim that position temporarily.
November 6, 2009 - Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas will be out 4-6 weeks after breaking his arm lifting weights. Rookie Taj Gibson will see an increased role in Thomas' absence.
Michael Redd - Milwaukee Bucks
November 2, 2009 - Bucks guard Michael Redd will miss the next two weeks with pain in his surgically-repaired left knee. Redd suffered torn ligaments in that knee last season. Redd is one of very few proven players on a young and inexperienced Milwaukee roster. Charlie Bell will be his replacement in the starting lineup.November 2, 2009 - Nate Robinson suffered a sprained ankle during the Knicks home-opening loss to Philadelphia on Halloween night and will be sidelined for 10-14 days. Expect veteran guard Larry Hughes and rookie Toney Douglas to get extra playing time in Robinson's absence.
We'll have to wait a while for Blake Griffin's NBA debut. The first overall pick in the 2009 draft broke his left kneecap during the Clippers' final preseason game and is expected to miss the first six weeks of the season -- at minimum. The injury was originally reported as a sore knee.
October 19, 2009 Kevin Love will have surgery to repair a
fractured metacarpal in his left hand. The projected recovery time is 6-8 weeks, which means we won't see the second-year big man take the floor for Minnesota until Christmas.
