If you don't die in ten years, you will start again. This five-word poem also applies to the NBA stage. In the star-studded alliance, there is never a shortage of legends that grow in adversity and can be sung and wept.
Durant from a ruptured Achilles tendon to play a full 48 minutes on Tianwang Mountain, returning to the peak and shaping legends, Thompson from a cruciate ligament tear, an Achilles tendon rupture, 3 years to sharpen a sword, return after sweeping the league, and then set off waves. Injuries never hinder the growth of the star, but will become more and more courageous, complete the reverse growth, and write legends.
Today, take stock of the six stars who are expected to make a comeback in the new season.
Sixth place: Morant, who killed all sides
Morant, averaged 28.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 7 assists per game in the 2022-23 regular season, shooting 47.2% from the field, 38.9% from three-point range and 77% from the free-throw line.
Morant was selected by the Grizzlies with the 2nd pick in the first round in 2019. As the world's first waist, Morant has excellent athleticism and bouncing explosiveness, amazing physical fitness, and Morant is also extremely good at the organizational end, keen insight, and smart ball skills, which make Morant show amazing energy, and also make Morant show the spirit of king.
In the 2021-22 season, Morant suffered injuries at the end of the regular season and during the semifinals, and finally, due to Morant's injury, the Grizzlies lost to the Warriors and ended the dark horse season. In the offseason, Morant reached a five-year 190 million contract with the team and once again became the king of Memphis.
In the 2022-23 season, Morant returned from injury, facing the Knicks' opener, Morant continued his peak performance last season, cutting 34 points, 4 rebounds and 9 assists, and helped the team drive narrowly against the Knicks, win the start of the new season, and once again show the ability to lead the team as a superstar.
In the next game, Morant still played steadily, facing the Nets' game, Morant once again against Durant, and at key moments, stepped up, not only individual scoring, but also frequently activated teammates by threading needles, Bane's outbreak, is also the key to the team's win, Morant cut 38 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in the game, all-round performance, once again made the young man show his bold skills and promising potential in the future.
As a young player, Morant has fully completed his rise, not only in all aspects of skills, not inferior to Zion, but even has a trend of comprehensive crushing, and even in the face of superstars, Morant is also not far behind, perfectly interpreting the momentum of the newborn calf is not afraid of tigers and unstoppable super ability, I believe that in time, the world's first waist king will dominate the league, and even become the most reckoning superhero.
Fifth place: Simmons, son of the Chosen
Simmons, who averaged 8.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game in the 2022-23 regular season, shot 60.9% from the field, 0% from three-point range, and 50% from the free-throw line.
Simmons was selected by the 76ers with the first pick in the first round in 2016. As a big guard, Simmons once became another well-rounded and physically versatile point guard in the league after the Magic. Although Simmons' projection ability has always been questioned, his excellent athleticism and masterful organizational skills once made Simmons a big killer on the court, and his elite-level defensive ability made Simmons offensive and defensive, once becoming one of the league's leading superstars, and a big top guard that is rare in a century.
In the 2022 offseason, Simmons recovered from a back injury and gradually started recovery training, for Simmons, this is also one of the few periods that is so hard in the offseason, after all, Simmons has been drunk in the past, and he fell out with Embiid last season, and Simmons did not choose to practice more in the offseason, but continued to romance with his girlfriend France, and simply soaked sweaty training on cloud nine.
After the start of the 2022-23 season, Simmons returned, but the success of the offseason was not obvious, and the frequent fouls made Simmons leave the court many times with six fouls, completely becoming a non-attacking but impulsive son of God, and Simmons was also questioned and criticized again.
After a period of suspension, after Vaughn took charge of the Nets, Simmons once again started off the bench and scored his first double-double of the new season in the Kings' game, and in the next four games, Simmons continued to explode, not only scoring stable double digits, but also improving his physical control on the defensive end, and is moving towards peak performance.
Although Simmons still has a long way to go as a superstar, as a star who has not played for two years and is plagued by injuries, Simmons is moving in the direction of a star, and I believe that as the game deepens, the young man with outstanding physical qualities is likely to return to the top, regain the rhythm and reading ability of the game, and once again become a superstar with masterful organizational skills.
Fourth place: Davis, who is making a comeback
Davis, averaged 26.4 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in the 2022-23 regular season, shooting 56% from the field, 21.1% from three-point range, and 83.2% from the free-throw line.
Davis was selected by the Pelicans with the first pick in the first round in 2012. As an all-round interior giant tower that soared 20cm in high school, Davis has the control ability of a guard, solid feet on the inside, and is a superstar with both outside shooting ability and interior rebounding ability.
After the start of the 2022-23 season, Davis once played a good performance, after James was suspended due to injury, Davis completely became the absolute boss of the team, after mastering a large number of balls, Davis' overall deterrence has been greatly improved, and after reducing the frequency of outside shots, Davis' dominance on the inside is peerless.
Against the Nets, Davis almost dominated both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, Davis cut 37 points, 18 rebounds and 2 assists in the game, shooting 15/25, completely dominating the interior, and also caused the Nets with Durant to suffer a defeat.
Facing the Spurs, Davis continued to kill all sides, cutting 30 points, 18 rebounds and 2 assists in the game, almost replicating the game against the Nets, and also allowing the Lakers to win the longest three-game winning streak of the season, which shows that once Davis has absolute possession, it is not difficult to lead the team to win.
As a glass man, Davis has once again proved his ability and value in the new season, and I believe that as the game deepens, once Hamm recognizes the role of Davis, even after James' return, he still dominates the team with this superstar, and it will be logical for Davis to return to the top, and even the Lakers' record will rise, and even have the ability to compete for the championship again, and the comeback of Los Angeles will be just around the corner.
Third place: Lillard who regained his watch
Lillard, averaged 28.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game in the 2022-23 regular season, shooting 48% from the field, 40.8% from three-point range and 86.4% from the free-throw line.
Lillard was selected by the Blazers with the sixth pick in the first round in 2012. As a super scorer, Lillard has both speed and explosiveness, whether it is the finishing of the basket after the breakthrough, or through keen observation, to find teammates who score easily, Lillard's control of the court is excellent, a stable three-point shot is a huge deterrent, as a big heart player, Lillard also has the killer nature of the first level of the enemy in the army, Lillard's time was once famous in the league.
In the 2022 offseason, Lillard recovered from injury, and the Blazers also shook hands with Lillard, not only swept away the unpleasantness of last season, but also signed a 2-year 110 million early contract extension with Lillard, which also made Lillard's aging Blazers irreversible.
In 2022-23, Lillard made a comeback, and in the opener against the Kings, Lillard chipped in 20 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists, and helped the team win, heralding the return of the super scorer who had been suspended for more than half a season.
In the face of the Nuggets, Lillard continued to be powerful, cutting 31 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists in the game, not only showing an all-round performance again, but even making Lillard time reappear, leading the team, Lillard also led the Blazers to a wave of four consecutive wins with his excellent play, completely getting rid of the shadow of last season's fishbelly team, and once again firmly ranked among the strong teams.
In the next game, Lillard's performance is still stable, as a veteran star who has suffered a serious injury, Lillard really bottomed out again after returning, not only his personal ability is still strong, in terms of leading the team, Lillard is still extremely good and steady, and the cooperation with Grant is gradually getting better, I believe that as the game deepens, Lillard will lead this reborn team to continue to move towards the championship, and as the leader of this team, Lillard will also move towards new goals and dreams.
Second place: Booker, the cold-blooded killer
Booker, who averaged 26.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the 2022-23 regular season, shot 47.7% from the field, 37.6% from three-point range and 87.4% from the free throw line.
Booker was selected by the Suns with the 13th pick in the first round in 2015. As a Kobe disciple, Booker has excellent scoring explosiveness, as well as excellent athleticism and speed advantages, which once made Booker a historical scorer, as an active single-game 70-point winner, but also witnessed the true colors of Booker's cold-blooded killer.
In the 2021-22 playoffs, Booker suffered a hamstring injury and his form declined for a while, resulting in the team's defeat to the Lone Rangers in the semifinals and the upset exit from the Western Conference.
In the 2022 offseason, the Suns and Booker reached a 4-year 215 million early extension contract, which also allowed Booker to completely determine the team's untouchable leadership status, and also became a well-deserved superhero of the Suns, becoming the cornerstone and absolute core of the team's future for 3-5 years.
In the 2022-23 season, Booker returned from injury and returned the favor, and when the Suns were worried about internal and external troubles, Booker still played extremely consistently, whether in Paul's poor condition or after injury, Booker led the Suns through difficulties with an excellent performance, as the absolute leader of the team, Booker also showed his imminent and super personal ability.
Against the Clippers, Booker played well, cutting 35 points, 1 rebound and 4 assists, once again showing his true colors as a super scorer, and also allowed the team to successfully defeat the Clippers.
In the game against the Warriors, Booker under the strict defense of the whole game, cut 27 points, 2 rebounds and 9 assists, comprehensive performance, once again helped the team in the absence of Paul to Nick the defending champion Warriors, once again showed Booker on the verge of being on the line, super big heart attributes, but also gradually showed Booker's good ability to lead the team, under Booker's strength, the Suns refused to play in Crowder, Paul suffered injuries, with a 9-6 record still ranked fourth in the West, perfectly interpreting Booker's super personal ability.
As a super scorer, Booker has gradually grown, from a scorer to the leader of the team, can help the team win the game by threading the needle, and even killing all sides in a variety of ways, and the control of the court is also increasing, and Booker's excellent performance has also witnessed the Suns' big contract that even gave up Ayton once and chose to extend his contract with Booker in advance, which is absolutely deserved. Even the sun is expected to leave the future and hope, and Phoenix is also expected to return to the glory and glory of the past under the leadership of Booker.
First place: The all-around big man Embiid
Embiid, averaged 32.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in the 2022-23 regular season, shooting 52.1% from the field, 27.1% from three-point range, and 83.6% from the free-throw line.
Embiid was selected by the 76ers with the third pick in the first round in 2014. As a big insider, Embiid has a strong self-learning ability and an enterprising attitude of constant curiosity. As an interior star in the small-ball era, Embiid has extremely ghostly foot movement ability and good projection ability, and in recent years, Embiid has entered the heyday of his career, once becoming the most powerful contender for MVP.
In the 2021-22 playoffs, Embiid suffered injuries such as fingers and concussions, and Embiid's injury also caused the 76ers to repeat the tragic fate of last season and fall on the stage of the semifinals again.
In the 2022-23 season, Embiid made a comeback, and after experiencing early season fluctuations, after Harden suffered injury problems, Embiid stepped up again to continue the peak performance of last season's scoring champion, and also made the 76ers' record without Harden not to decline but to rise.
Facing the Bucks, Embiid against the Brother, the whole game, Embiid cut 32 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, all-round your technical performance, but also made the 76ers defeat the Eastern Conference giants Bucks, once again showed Embiid on the verge of being on command, super personal ability and team ability.
In the following game, Embiid continued to erupt, facing the Timberwolves, Embiid continued to perform at his peak, cutting 32 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, showing the style of a superstar again.
As an interior giant, Embiid recovered again after suffering from injuries, not only leading by example, leading the team gradually out of the trough at the beginning of the season, but also leading the team to progress in the absence of Harden, but also once again showing Embiid's good ability to lead the team, I believe that as the game deepens, Embiid will gradually get better, not only leading the team to continue to move forward, but even hopefully towards the regular season MVP.