NBA 2017-18: All-Injured Roster
Unlike the 2016-17 regular season campaign, which was a comparatively fortunate time frame in terms of player injuries in the NBA, this season has seen a spate of injuries troubling some of the league's best teams. At least 3 teams which were supposed to be in the race for the Playoffs are now out of contention because of these debilitating injuries, while a number of others are holding on to their playoff spots with dear life, stretching the rest of their rosters to the limit.
The talent outflux due to injuries is so high this season that we could actually make a 12-player roster out of those players who would be title contenders if they were all fit and on the same team. The criteria for inclusion in this piece is that the player in question should miss at least 40% or more of the 2017-18 regular season campaign.
Let's take a look at the 12 players who make the cut in our All-Injured Roster for this season.
BACKCOURT RESERVES
Shooting guard: Zach LaVine
The 13th pick in the 2014 NBA draft, former Timberwolves player Zach LaVine's major claims to fame are his back-to-back wins at the Slam Dunk Challenge in 2015 and 2016. He is one of the most athletic players in the league ever, with a vertical leap of 46 inches.
Before going down with a torn ACL on his left knee in February last year, LaVine was averaging a career-best 18.9 points per game. His potential led to him becoming a makeweight on an offseason trade which sent him and Kris Dunn to the Chicago Bulls and Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. LaVine has missed 44 of the 67 games the Bulls have played this season due to his recovery.
Point guard: Patrick Beverley
Having been sent to the Los Angeles Clippers from the Houston Rockets in one of the blockbuster trades this offseason, Beverley went down with a season-ending injury to the meniscus on his right knee on 22nd November.
Beverley is a 2-time NBA All-Defensive team selection, making the first team All-Defense in 2017.
Point guard: Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin first shot to fame in a New York Knicks jersey, leading a turnaround of the franchise's fortunes as they recovered from a shaky 8-15 start and went on a 7-game winning streak after Lin started receiving major minutes.
Since then, Lin has played for the Rockets, Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets with varying degrees of success. He ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee in the Nets' season opener and underwent season-ending surgery in October.