Nick Crain | 11/23/22

     

In an 82-game season, injuries are bound to happen and an unfortunate side of basketball. The NBA is physical, and there’s no proven way for teams to avoid injuries and setbacks throughout the course of the year.

 

With that in mind, there are players known around the league for their durability. What’s interesting about this fact, however, is that the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement is structured in such a way that players are almost always paid every cent of their contract value even if they are unable to take the floor.

As such, players that play more games are naturally more valuable to teams. This is why players and teams spend outrageous amounts of money to get their bodies right and avoid injuries. If a player is always hurt and isn’t playing, their value is almost nothing.

 

Last season, there were a handful of quality athletes that proved their durability and played almost the entire season. Overall, we consider those types of players extremely valuable to the endurance of their team. And when it’s all said and done, the injury history and durability outlook of a player should always be a factor when trading for, or signing, an athlete to a new deal.

 

Who were five of the most durable players in the league during the 2021-22 season? Let’s take a look through the eyes of the Athledex platform.

 

Russell Westbrook (Los Angeles Lakers)

The Lakers’ 2021-22 season was plagued by injuries. LeBron James (56) and Anthony Davis (40) both played less than 60 games and their inability to stay on the floor didn’t allow the team to ever really get into a rhythm and push forward during the season. On the flip side, Russell Westbrook was a steady force. While he may not have played great, in relation to what we’ve seen in previous years, he was almost always on the court and giving his best effort. In fact, he played in 78 games – all of which were starts. Although Westbrook isn’t playing at a superstar level at this point in his career, the durability he’s shown at 34 years old is impressive and important to consider as he moves forward with his next contract.  

Kevon Looney (Golden State Warriors)

Only four players competed in all 82 regular season games during the 2021-22 campaign, and Looney was one of them. Between the regular season and postseason, he ultimately played in 104 total contests last season, which was the most of any player in the entire league. While Looney isn’t a star, he was a huge piece of the Warriors winning it all last season. He’s proven that he’s worth every penny Golden State has him on contract for, especially when we consider that he’s always ready and able to take the court. When we think of durability and guys that always find a way to play, Looney was at the top of the list last season…which could also be a huge factor in his real-time performance value being so far above his team contract.  

Saddiq Bey (Detroit Pistons)

It’s not uncommon for younger players to avoid injuries throughout the season. One of the rising scorers in the NBA, Bey played in all 82 games last season for the Pistons. As Bey gets closer to discussing a new deal with Detroit as his initial rookie scale contract comes to an end, his durability will be something to lean on when negotiating the type of money he’s eligible for. As previously mentioned, it’s most beneficial to pay players in a position to always take the court and produce. At 23 years old, Bey is already notching a complete season without missing a game is an impressive accomplishment.      

Mikal Bridges (Phoenix Suns)

Every team has, or needs, a player that’s a huge contributor toward their winning and unconcerned with an excessive amount of accolades. For the Suns, this is unequivocally Bridges as their third best option. The Suns know how critical he is to their success, and showed him as much when he recently signed a new four-year deal worth over $90 million. Bridges was one of two players that started in all 82 regular season games in the 2021-22 season. In addition, he went on to start in 13 more games in the postseason, meaning he played in nearly 100 games last season.

   

Dorian Finney-Smith (Dallas Mavericks)

One of the most underrated players in the entire NBA is Finney-Smith. A 3-and-D wing, he made a number of key plays during Dallas’ Western Conference Finals run last season and played a pivotal role in their success throughout the regular season. After playing in 80 games (all starts) during the regular season, Finney-Smith went on to start in 18 more games in the playoffs. Currently 29 years old, he’s still in his prime but will soon see a slight decline in his early thirties when players’ bodies often start to decline. Until that happens, however, he will continue to be one of the most consistent players on the Mavericks and absolutely a player to keep an eye on.