NBA 2024-25 Season Injuries Part 2: Step Right Up!

Injuries are a part of any contact sport and there is always fallout from them. One of the silver linings of injuries is that someone always has to replace the injured player.

(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

In the NBA, that means someone steps up and good teams continue their winning ways, or the replacement’s production lacks and the team slips.

Today we take a look at five players (listed alphabetically) who are making the most of their opportunity because of someone else’s misfortune.

Tre Mann (Charlotte Hornets) 6-foot-3, 4th Year (23 years old)

• Hornets' Record: 4-7

The left-handed Mann is shooting the deep ball at a 39 percent clip and is currently averaging 14.8 ppg, also a career high for the former Ballislife All-American who played in the All-American Game in 2019. Mann doesn’t start, but he plays 25 minutes per outing and is a vital cog considering starting point guard La’Melo Ball is the only regular for Charlotte that has played in all 11 games.

Ironically, the injury bug hit Mann on Tuesday as he was held out of a loss to the Orlando Magic and should have time to rest his nagging back injury.

Charlotte doesn’t play again until Nov. 16. Mann, who scored over 23 points three times in the Hornet’s first five games, played a season low 16 minutes on Sunday, so the days off come at the right time for a team trying to keep pace in the Eastern Conference.

Scotty Pippen Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies) 6-foot-1, 2nd Year (24 years old)

• Grizzlies' Record: 7-5

Last season Memphis’ injury crisis was the worst one team ever faced, as the Grizzlies set league records for players used (33) starting lineups (51) and games lost (578). That unfortunate reality, however, is helping the team this year because of the experience those players gained.

1. With Ja Morant’s current hip injury, the son of the NBA Hall of Famer who signed a standard contract in October will be in the starting lineup and playing starters’ minutes for the immediate future.
2. Dad was the ultimate late bloomer and both Scotty and his younger brother Justin (now at Michigan) are considered late bloomers.

Interestingly, in a run of producing pros even some of the best high school academy programs have never accomplished:

Sierra Canyon now has produced 11 NBA players since the 2016-17 season

Marvin Bagley, Duane Washington, K.J. Martin, Pippen, Cassius Stanley, Christian Koloko, B.J. Boston, Ziaire Williams, Amari Bailey, Trentyn Flowers, Bronny James. It’s not a stretch to say Scotty might develop into the best of the lot.

On Wednesday night vs. the Lakers, Pippen Jr. had 15 points, three rebounds and three assists, but it wasn’t enough as Memphis fell to the L.A. Lakers, 128-123.

Norman Powell (L.A. Clippers) 6-foot-4, 10th Year (31 years old)

• Clippers' Record:  6-6

Plenty of noise was made when it was announced Kawhi Leonard would not be ready to play to begin the season because of his troublesome knee. Since then, the former UCLA standout has put together a career-year (so far) for a team with playoff aspirations.

Powell has expanded his overall offensive game, can get to his spots, can take the tough shot and so far he’s making them at a terrific clip.

• Through 11 games, Powell is averaging 26.0 ppg (Top 12  in the league) while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 50.5 percent from the 3-point line.
• For his career, Powell is a .468 shooter from the field and .394 from deep.

Powell puts his head down and goes to work and after three years of coming off the bench in L.A., is making the most of his opportunity.

On Wednesday night vs. the Rockets, Powell netted only 13 points on 5-of-18 shooting as L.A. lost, 111-103 to a Houston team now 8-4.

Peyton Watson (Denver Nuggets) 6-foot-7, 3rd Year (22 years old)

• Nuggets' Record: 7-3

In our recent story about the NBA’s injury crisis, we didn’t even mention the Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon, who is out indefinitely with a calf strain. A lot was made of the Nuggets losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and their lack of depth, but perhaps there is more depth than people give this franchise credit for.

It also doesn’t hurt that Nikola Jokic is playing at an ungodly level, averaging well over a triple-double per game and leading the team in steals and blocks.

1. Third year pro Christian Braun (16.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is getting plenty of credit for picking up where Caldwell-Pope left off and he also plays well on the defensive end.
2. Second year pro Julian Strawther has also picked up his overall game since his minutes have increased in November, and has scored in double-digits in three of the past five games.

We wanted to single out the play of Watson, who is now playing starter’s minutes in Gordon’s absence and is thriving. Watson was considered a home run draft choice out of UCLA, meaning the Nuggets were swinging for the fences since he hardly ever saw the floor in his lone year in college while his high school career was affected by COVID-19.

It looks like the gamble is paying off now as Watson’s offense is starting to match his defensive ability. He’s averaging 14.5 ppg in his last four games and has made 6-of-7 3-point attempts in his past two games. Don’t count the Nuggets out just yet.

Aaron Wiggins (Oklahoma City Thunder) 6-foot-5, 4th Year (25 years old)

• Thunder's Record: 10-2

With all the attention Chet Holmgren’s injury has received, it’s easy to forget $87 million dollar free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein is also on the shelf. The former Knew York Knick suffered a fracture in his left hand about a month ago and will still be out for at least 10 more days, if not longer.

Luckily, OKC can play small ball at a high level and has some good depth. The Thunder is playing a truly small lineup with Wiggins (a natural shooting guard) and Jalen Williams (a natural small forward who can play big) in the interior. Neither are taller than 6-foot-6, so OKC has its work cut out for it on the boards with little rim protection.

1. Wiggins is developing into a nice pro who is known as a 3-and-D player.
2. Wiggins is shooting the 3-pointer at a 47 percent clip and has scored less than nine points in a game only once this month with five double digit games.

On Wednesday night vs. the decimated Pelicans, the Thunder continued their winning ways with a 106-88 victory as Wiggins had 10 points in 24 minutes. Cason Wallace, a second-year guard, actually got the start as the Thunder have many valuable contributors.

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