Two All-Star forwards. Two playoff-caliber teams. And two hamstring injuries that might shake up the start of the NBA season.
The Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings — two squads that rely heavily on their frontcourt stars — are both holding their breath after preseason setbacks to Jaylen Brown and Domantas Sabonis.
Let’s start in Boston.
Jaylen Brown tweaked his left hamstring in the Celtics’ preseason finale against Toronto, exiting early in the first quarter and never returning. Head coach Joe Mazzulla called the injury “day-to-day,” but his tone left more questions than answers. When asked whether Brown would be ready for the regular season opener against Philadelphia, Mazzulla sidestepped:
“I expect him to be at his best every single day, and then we’ll take it from there.”
Translation? Boston fans better hope this doesn’t linger — especially with Jayson Tatum out long-term after tearing his Achilles earlier this summer. The Celtics have already lost key veterans in Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. Without Brown, they’d be down to Payton Pritchard and Derrick White as their main offensive engines. That’s not exactly the blueprint for a top seed in the East.
Now, shift west.
The Sacramento Kings are dealing with their own early-season blow. Domantas Sabonis, the league’s rebounding leader for three straight years, suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in a preseason game against the Clippers. He’s been ruled out for the start of the season and will be re-evaluated in a week.
This couldn’t come at a worse time for Sacramento. Keegan Murray is already recovering from thumb surgery, meaning two of the Kings’ five starters are sidelined. Sabonis was coming off another monster season — averaging 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 6 assists per game — the engine behind one of the NBA’s most explosive offenses. Without him, Sacramento loses its best rebounder, playmaker, and interior presence.
Both teams now face a test of depth and patience. Hamstring injuries are tricky — they don’t just hurt in the moment, they tend to linger if not handled perfectly. Boston can’t afford to rush Brown back, and Sacramento might have to rely on Alex Len and Trey Lyles to keep the frontcourt alive until Sabonis returns to the NBA
The silver lining? Both injuries are considered low-grade strains, not tears. Still, with the season tipping off in just days, these setbacks are reminders of how fragile preseason optimism can be. The Celtics and Kings — both expecting deep playoff runs — are starting the year limping, not sprinting, the NBA is going crazy.
If this is how the season begins, the NBA’s marathon might get brutal real quick.
