Injuries can derail even the best NBA teams, but some contenders are built to handle them better than others. Whether it is because of roster depth or strong coaching, these teams have enough around their stars to stay competitive through an extended absence.
Here are the 10 NBA contenders best equipped to survive a long-term injury during the 2026-27 regular season.
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#10 Portland Trail Blazers
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The Portland Trail Blazers have more than enough backcourt depth to survive losing one of their stars for an extended stretch. Ja Morant and Damian Lillard headline the group, but Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday give Portland two more capable guards.
Meanwhile, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, and Robert Williams III provide solid depth around them. That balance has already helped the Blazers stay undefeated so far, making them one of the league’s deeper teams.
#9 Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are already being tested, with Paolo Banchero expected to miss four to six weeks because of a high-ankle sprain, and Jalen Suggs also sidelined for at least the next couple of weeks.
Orlando still has enough talent to stay competitive, with Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Wendell Carter Jr., Nikola Vucevic, Anthony Black, Tristan da Silva, and others capable of carrying bigger roles. Their depth, size, and defense should give them a strong enough floor to hold their own until their stars return.
#8 Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors have already suffered a major blow with Kawhi Leonard’s injury. However, the roster still has enough talent to stay competitive. Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl give the Raptors a solid core to lean on, while role players like Ja’Kobe Walter and Kyle Anderson add useful depth behind them.
#7 Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland hasn’t dealt with any major injuries yet, but its depth suggests it would be well equipped if that changed. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden give the Cavaliers two elite creators, while Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Peyton Watson, Jaylon Tyson, and Sam Merrill give them plenty of support across the rotation. Even if one of their stars missed an extended stretch, Cleveland should still have enough scoring and defensive assets to stay near the top of the East.
#6 Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Mitchell Robinson, and others give the Celtics scoring, playmaking, shooting, and defensive options at almost every position. Coupled with a strong coaching setup, Boston should be equipped to handle a long-term absence.
#5 Houston Rockets
Houston is dealing with a few injuries right now, but none of them look serious enough to expose the roster. Even with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams out for a few games, the Rockets can still lean on Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Clint Capela. That depth in both the backcourt and frontcourt lets Houston stay lethal even with extended absences.
#4 LA Lakers
The Lakers have not been hit by any major injuries yet, but their biggest safety net is the amount of creation they have in the backcourt. Luka Doncic can carry an offense by himself, Austin Reaves has already shown he can take on a much larger scoring role, and Collin Sexton is another guard who is capable of creating his own shot. With Kevon Looney as the backup to Walker Kessler at center, Los Angeles has enough balance to survive a stretch without one of its main pieces.
#3 San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio’s biggest advantage is that so much of its offense can be redistributed if one player goes down. De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Devin Vassell give the Spurs several players who can handle the ball and create, while Victor Wembanyama remains the piece that holds the fort on both ends.
#2 Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia’s biggest concern right now is the frontcourt, where Ariel Hukporti is out for the season, and Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker, and Tacko Fall are all dealing with injuries. Even so, Joel Embiid and Adem Bona can still anchor the middle, while LeBron James can give them another option when they need to go smaller.
The bigger reason Philly can survive injuries, though, is the amount of star power on the roster, led by Tyrese Maxey.
#1 OKC Thunder
The OKC Thunder are already being forced to prove the point of this list. Jalen Williams suffered a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula, while Cason Wallace is also headed for surgery with a torn labrum, taking two important pieces out of the rotation.
The Thunder can still lean on All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, with Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell, Kenrich Williams, and Jaylin Williams giving them enough help across the frontcourt and backcourt to retain their powerhouse status.
Edited by Riya Peter
