NBA Player Power Rankings: The Impact Of Recent Injuries

Two of the NBA’s finest have suffered severe injuries. How have the losses of Kevin Durant and Kyle Lowry impacted the Player Power Rankings?

The 2016-17 NBA regular season, and the Player Power Rankings alike, have been thrown for a loop. Two of the Top 10 players on the list have suffered severe enough injuries that they’ll miss at least one month of action.

Due to the rule that the Player Power Rankings only includes active players, both have been removed. Thus, the question beckons: who are they and where were they ranked?

The first of two players is 2014 NBA MVP and current Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant. Durant was ranked No. 6 in the most recent edition of the Player Power Rankings and was in line to receive a Top 5 ranking on this week’s list.

Unfortunately, Durant will be sidelined for at least one month with a sprained MCL and bone bruise—and he may be held out even longer.

That’s better than what could have transpired, but it will still keep Durant out for a long enough stretch to warrant being dropped from the in-season Top 20.

Lowry was ranked No. 11 in the most recent edition of the Player Power Rankings and has been a Top 10 mainstay for most of 2016-17. He’s an elite two-way player and a three-time All-Star who may still deserve a second career All-NBA nod.

Unfortunately, Lowry suffered an injury that required surgery to remove loose bodies from his right wrist.

With Lowry aiming to return for the playoffs, it stands to reason that he could be out for the remainder of the regular season.

With Durant and Lowry out, two new players have entered the mix. Both Durant and Lowry will likely be ranked in the Top 20 of the end-of-the-season Player Power Rankings, but they’ll be excluded in-season for as long as they’re sidelined.

The question is: who are the Top 20 players in the NBA with the likes of Durant and Lowry sidelined by severe injuries?