LOS ANGELES.- The injuries kept them away from the fields of the NBA for long months, but great basketball figures return this Tuesday looking forward to the new season.
Haliburton, to change everything
It’s been 15 months since the All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton He last played in the NBA.
His Achilles tendon rupture in the final against Oklahoma City in 2025 (4-3 defeat) condemned the Indiana Pacers to a blank year, with the second worst balance of the regular season.
“I’m healthy, 100%,” says the 26-year-old prodigy.
Before his injury, Haliburton was the third-best assister in the league in the 2024-2025 season (9.2 assists), behind Nikola Jokic and Bring Young.
His return can change everything for the Pacers, who have gained strength with the center Ivica Zubac (14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds) and the forward Aaron Nesmith.
Lillard returns to Portland
Damian Lillard I was still with them Milwaukee Bucks when he suffered the same injury as Haliburton. He has been away from competition for a year and a half.
Since then, the NBA champion and All-Star guard changed conferences to return to the team where it all began, the Portland Trail Blazers.
The franchise’s sports director took the opportunity to sign from Memphis to another five-star baseman, Ja Morant, who has only played 79 games in the last three seasons and none since January.
Morant, 27, and Lillard, 36, will accompany the extraordinary Israeli forward Deni Avdija (24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists), which led to portland to the playoffs last season.
Irving on the Mavs
The return of Kyrie Irving to dallas After his torn cruciate ligament in his left knee, it will be especially interesting to follow, with the prodigy Cooper Flagg at his side (21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his first season in the elite).
The 34-year-old point guard averaged 24.7 points in the 2024-2025 campaign and will be able to give new impetus to the Mavericks. Last season, the “Mavs” were in 12th place in the West, with only 26 wins.
Flagg and Irving will set the pace of the game, with the young Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher trying to take advantage of the opportunity to stand out.
VanVleet, the balance of the Rockets
Fred VanVleet He returns after a year without playing a game due to a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The 32-year-old point guard looks like a good addition for Houston in his aspiration for the title, although the Rockets They were eliminated in the first round of the last playoffs against the Lakers (4-2).
VanVleet and Kevin Durant 38 years old, they make up a couple in their thirties who will have to prove that they are up to the task.
Davis and Young, the renewal of Washington
The base Trae Youngwith an average of 25.1 points in his career, should provide new impetus to the Washington Wizards after his discreet pass from atlanta last season. In the American capital he has only played five games.
Young, 28, will partner with Anthony Daviswho suffered a hand injury and was traded in February from dallas to the Wizards.
Both add to a squad that could be very attractive thanks to the size of the number one in this summer’s draft, AJ Dybantsa, and the French Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly.
