Clippers Start Season Without Brandon Ingram
The Los Angeles Clippers enter their opening game against the Sacramento Kings with several key players sidelined by injuries.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Basketball
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The Los Angeles Clippers open their season against the Sacramento Kings without new acquisition Brandon Ingram. Ingram is recovering from surgery on his right heel performed in May.
Why it matters
The team faces immediate roster challenges as they integrate new talent while managing a significant number of injuries to core players.
Brandon Ingram remains unavailable following right heel surgery in May, while Jordan Miller, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, and Max Strus are also out with various surgical recoveries or injuries.
The players
Brandon Ingram
He is a professional basketball player recently acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade involving Kawhi Leonard.
Kawhi Leonard
He is a high-profile professional basketball player whose trade facilitated the acquisition of Brandon Ingram by the Clippers.
Max Strus
He is a professional basketball player currently sidelined with a partial tear of his right plantar fascia.
Jordan Miller
He is a professional basketball player who remains out following surgery on his left rotator cuff.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser
He is a professional basketball player currently recovering from right lisfranc surgery.
The details
Brandon Ingram, acquired in a trade involving Kawhi Leonard, is one of several Clippers players unable to compete in the season opener. Additional absences include Jordan Miller, out after left rotator cuff surgery, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, recovering from right lisfranc surgery, and Max Strus, who has a partial tear of his right plantar fascia.
Timeline
May 2026: Brandon Ingram underwent surgery on his right heel.
October 22, 2026: The Clippers play their season opener against the Sacramento Kings.
Season Trajectory
The widespread injury list forces the Clippers to rely on depth early in the season, significantly impacting their rotation stability. This start tests the team's ability to remain competitive in the Western Conference while waiting for key players to return.
Fans should monitor the team's rotation, as the absence of multiple key starters will require bench players to take on increased minutes. Fantasy owners should adjust lineups immediately to account for the confirmed absences of Ingram and Strus.
The takeaway
Navigating early season injuries is a common challenge for teams managing veteran rosters. Organizations must prioritize long-term recovery to ensure their core players are available for the post-season push.
Further reading
Find more updates on the roster at Los Angeles Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
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Would you still attend a game if several star players were ruled out due to injury?
