The NBA has seen an unusual surge in player injuries this season. While many have been minor, the sheer volume of setbacks is sparking concern across the league. With stars missing games at an alarming rate, fans are now questioning whether the NBA’s grueling schedule is contributing to what some are calling an injury “epidemic.”
Fans Raise Concerns As Star Injuries Highlight NBA’s Grueling Schedule
Cade Cunningham was one of the few stars to return on Tuesday night, but league-wide injury concerns continued to dominate the conversation, with many teams still missing multiple key players. Four franchises currently have six players sidelined, while several others are dealing with four or five injuries at once.
Some of the league’s biggest names remain out, including Giannis Antetokounmpo (groin), Victor Wembanyama (calf), Anthony Davis (calf), Kawhi Leonard (ankle), Joel Embiid (knee), Zion Williamson (hamstring), Trae Young (knee), and Ja Morant (calf). Other marquee players such as Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Fred VanVleet, and Dejounte Murray are sidelined for an extended time.
When @underdogNBA highlighted the growing list of absences, fan concern erupted across X as many questioned the sustainability of the league’s demanding schedule.
“The NBA needs to look long and hard and its player ‘injury’ epidemic,” wrote one fan. “That’s the whole league but you should’ve left Embiid out he’s forever injured,” another added. Another fan was baffled by the number of injuries, writing, ” State of the art facilities, best doctors in the world, I don’t get how this many stars are hurt, at this rate.”
The NBA needs to look long and hard and its player “injury” epidemic.
— OldTimeHardball (@OleTimeHardball) November 18, 2025
Many fans pointed to the NBA’s jam-packed calendar as the primary culprit. The league’s 82-game schedule, which returned in 2018 after the 66-game post-lockout season, continues to draw criticism for overworking players, limiting rest, and potentially contributing to soft-tissue injuries. Back-to-back games have become a particular point of frustration.
“Imo there has to be a serious, serious re-evaluation of load management. It has become apparent over years now that injuries are actually INCREASING in the load management era. Largely, undertraining causes weakness in joints, tightness in muscles & thus soft tissue injuries,” wrote another one.
Imo there has to be a serious, serious re-evaluation of load management.
It has become apparent over years now that injuries are actually INCREASING in the load management era.
Largely, undertraining causes weakness in joints, tightness in muscles & thus soft tissue injuries.
— Sharky Waters NATION (@SharksNSports88) November 18, 2025
“The NBA needs to get rid of back-to-backs,” another fan argued. A third echoed the sentiment, writing, “They run up and down the court for more than 40 mins and 82 games, of they will be getting injured ! The NBA needs to reduce the amount of games by 20 at least.”
One fan went even further, venting about the league office: “It’s time for a new commissioner man this sh*t is unreal with the scheduling. Gonna be another OKC cake walk to the Finals lmao”
It’s time for a new commissioner man this shit is unreal with the scheduling. Gonna be another OKC cake walk to the Finals lmao🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/vfiMDdQJhU
— 🪬🏆Warrior Wintality🏆🪬 (@yessirskidubs) November 19, 2025
Calls to reduce the number of games have grown louder in recent years, with some fans advocating for a 60-game season and others demanding the elimination of back-to-backs altogether. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, a longtime critic of the current format, echoed similar concerns this week, adding fuel to the debate.
As injuries to the league’s biggest stars continue to pile up, the pressure on the NBA to reassess its structure has never been greater, and fans are making it clear that the status quo is becoming increasingly difficult to defend.
