National Basketball Association

Will the NBA's postseason injury bug equal an asterisk for this year's champion?

Updated Jun. 30, 2021 5:05 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

When you're telling the all-time NBA Finals story, it's hard to exclude Phil Jackson's name – for more reasons than one. 

Jackson — the man who won 11 rings as a coach and two as a player — has had a profound impact on the league, not just with his winning ways but also with his words. Consider that he used the term "asterisk" in relation to an NBA championship years ago, when he said the San Antonio Spurs' 1999 NBA title was marred due to a strike-shortened season.

That term is still alive and well today, and it returned to prominence last season, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NBA to halt midseason and then complete the playoffs in the Orlando bubble. With that, some think the Los Angeles Lakers' "bubble" championship comes with a caveat. 

Now, even though this regular season was nearly back to normal – teams played 72 games instead of 82 – the NBA is facing a new concern: injuries to star players.

After Tuesday night, you can add Giannis Antetokounmpo to the long list of players who have been attacked by the injury bug this postseason.

Consider this: Eleven star-to-superstar-level players – not including Antetokounmpo – have missed games this postseason due to injury or COVID-19. That list includes Joel Embiid (knee – one game), James Harden (hamstring - three games), Kyrie Irving (ankle – three games), Trae Young (foot – one game), Donovan Mitchell (ankle – one game), Anthony Davis (groin – one game), Jaylen Brown (wrist – five games), Mike Conley (hamstring – five games), Chris Paul (healthy and safety protocols – two games), Kawhi Leonard (knee – seven games) and Jamal Murray (knee – 10 games).

Those players' teams are a combined 17-22 in games without their stars.

With that, is it possible that this year's championship might come with an asterisk, given that some of the game's greats are unable to take the floor due to their respective ailments?

On "First Things First," Nick Wright said that a title is a title, but it can't be ignored that this postseason has been defaced by a rash of unfortunate injuries.

"This year, if you are an avid basketball fan, you are going to remember that this was a unique postseason, just like last year's was a unique postseason. … While injuries are a part of every postseason, there had never been more than six All-Stars miss a game in a postseason. If Giannis misses a game, it will be up to 11."

Still, there is the camp that firmly believes injuries are part of the game, and Colin Cowherd could arguably be described as the leader of that camp. 

On Wednesday, he took umbrage with the idea that this year's postseason will be defined by who didn't play rather than which team won the title, saying that with or without the injuries, the playoffs would have followed the same path.

"The Bucks scored 38 points at half when Giannis was healthy. ‘Well, Colin, the Suns …’ They were the No. 2 seed in the West. They played together, so they have this great chemistry. It's not a surprise they're here. ‘Well, what about the Clippers? Kawhi Leonard's injury. …' Timeout – Kawhi Leonard's in and out of the lineup for everybody he plays for.

"'Well, what about the Lakers?' What about ‘em?' … [Anthony Davis] got hurt. Which, you know, it’s Anthony Davis. He's always hurt. … Jamal Murray's injury. They were swept by Phoenix. You gonna tell me with Jamal Murray they would have won?"

Wednesday's Game 6 between the Suns and Clippers will once again be void of Leonard, but LA is still favored to push the Western Conference finals to a Game 7, according to FOX Bet. 

As for the Eastern Conference finals, the NBA world is in wait-and-see mode regarding Giannis' knee and Young's foot. 

One thing – if not the health of players – is for sure, however: Rings don't come with asterisks. 

Only diamonds.

For more up-to-date news on all things NBA, click here to register for alerts on the FOX Sports app!

share

Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Basketball Association

Kawhi Leonard

Giannis Antetokounmpo

James Harden

Kyrie Irving

Jamal Murray

Chris Paul

Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks

LA Clippers

Denver Nuggets

Milwaukee Bucks

Brooklyn Nets

Los Angeles Lakers

Anthony Davis

Utah Jazz

Donovan Mitchell

Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid

Mike Conley

Jaylen Brown

Nick Wright

Colin Cowherd

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

First Things First