NBA Preview: Key Players to Monitor in the Atlantic Division

The 2025 NBA season tips off with injury storylines already looming large. Several high-profile players are returning from major surgeries or long rehab processes, while others carry lingering durability concerns that could dictate their availability throughout the year. As the season begins, medical staffs will be tasked with balancing recovery, workload management, and the demands of an 82-game grind. Early setbacks or re-aggravations could shift team trajectories quickly, making health one of the most important factors in determining how this season plays out. Here is a preview of the Atlantic Division as the NBA regular season approaches.

Boston Celtics - Jaylen Brown

The most impactful Celtics injury is obviously Jayson Tatum with a ruptured Achilles, but since all signs indicate that Tatum will not play this season, we will focus on Jaylen Brown. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in May to address a partially torn meniscus that he had been playing through, described as a “minimally invasive procedure to clean out his knee.” Reports indicated that he had been receiving pain injections in the same knee since March but was expected to make a full recovery and return for training camp without limitations. More recently, he pulled up with a left hamstring issue on October 16 and is considered day-to-day, though the expectation is that he will be ready for the start of the season.

Philadelphia 76ers - Paul George

Paul George underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee following an injury sustained during an on-court workout the previous week and was evaluated by a doctor on July 11. This marks another chapter in George’s history of left knee issues, which include a scope in May 2018 for soreness that limited him to three missed games, bone bruises in October and November 2024 that caused him to miss stretches of games after hyperextension incidents, and a procedure in March 2025 involving injections in his knee and adductor that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. While he's unlikely to suit up for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Celtics, he was a full participant in the Saturday practice before the season begins on October 21st.

Philadelphia 76ers - Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid enters the 25–26 season under a cloud of uncertainty, following a left knee injury that sidelined him for most of last year. Arthroscopic surgery in April marked his second procedure on that same knee within a fourteen-month stretch. There are signs to be optimistic about though. Head coach Nick Nurse has described all the medical news as “positive,” and the team has shared footage of Embiid working out without a knee brace. The key question will be how he holds up over stretches and whether he can recapture the dominance he displayed when healthy—particularly with his defensive mobility and rim protection likely to be tested the most.

Toronto Raptors - Brandon Ingram

2025-26 looks to be a bounce-back year for Brandon Ingram. The major recent issue is the left ankle sprain, which essentially ended his 2024-25 season and delayed his debut with Toronto. The good news is that he appears to be recovering well, but given his injury history and the severity of the ankle injury, there remain risk factors heading into the new season. If Ingram enters the season at full strength, he can be a difference-maker for Toronto and help lift their competitiveness. Healthy, he’s one of the better wing scoring options in the league. If all goes well, expect something in the range of 20-24 points, 5-6 rebounds, 4-6 assists per game, and improved three-point volume, with the caveat that we’ll want to see consistent availability first.

New York Knicks - Josh Hart

Josh Hart was working through a finger injury in July. Then he underwent a procedure on it. Very early in this preseason, he took a fall in a game in Abu Dhabi and experienced back spasms that kept him out the entirety of this year’s preseason. Hart’s next opportunity to play will come in the team's regular-season opener against Cleveland on Wednesday. The 30-year-old swingman was limited to individual drills in Thursday's practice, and his status will be worth monitoring ahead of Opening Night.

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