The 2021-22 NBA season felt more normal than the previous two seasons, but the sport was without some of its best players.

LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, and Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons all missed last season because of various injuries, while new Clippers guard John Wall was healthy but sat out because he didn't fit into the plans of the team.

In the case of the Clippers, the return of Leonard and the free agent addition of Wall should make them a contender again in the Western Conference.

What should fans expect from their favorite players? How will teams try to get players who haven't played in a while back to play again?

When we last saw each player, what had changed since they were away from the court, and what roles they could play in the 2022-23 NBA season.

KAWHI LEONARD | LA CLIPPERS

Ballmer was excited when asked what it would be like to have Leonard back.

The Clippers owner told him to come on. Leonard is one of the top players in the world. I am looking forward to that. We got our fingers crossed that everythingPukiWikiPukiWikiPukiWikiPukiWiki is on schedule.

Every precautionary measure will be taken by the Clippers regarding their franchise player. Leonard tore his right knee in the fourth quarter of the Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz in June of 2021.

LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has not played since June 14, 2021, when he tore his right ACL. Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire

Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank described Leonard's work ethic as "maniacal".

Frank said he was glad to pay the light bill because he was working.

Leonard didn't participate in 5-on-5 basketball activities in July, but Frank said he is on schedule.

The Clippers can contend again in the West with a healthy Leonard and Paul George, who both missed time last season because of injuries.

Wall was added to the Clippers after he left the Houston Astros. While the Clippers want to bring back most of their team to make a title run, Wall will be a new piece with whom Leonard and George will have to form chemistry.

The Clippers will have time to hit all cylinders again before next year's playoffs with the hope that Leonard will be healthy.

The name of the person is Ohm Youngmisuk.

JAMES WISEMAN | GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

He tore his right knee on April 11, 2021. The Golden State Warriors center had surgery later that month but the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft faced setbacks in his attempt to return to the court.

He underwent a procedure to clean up the swelling in his knee. By the spring, he was expected to return before the end of the season and help the Warriors in the playoffs. He played in three G League games and was supposed to be the final step in his rehabilitation. He was shut down for the rest of the season after his knee swelled up.

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Jonathan Kuminga is in action for the first time in over a year.

It was supposed to be the answer to questions about the Warriors' size. The general manager didn't feel the need to sign a big man at the trade deadline because he thought the team would be enough. Having two of those players was all it took for another NBA title.

The year was a big one for Looney. He played in all of Golden State's regular season and playoffs. In the regular season, he averaged 12.4 rebound per 36 minutes for the Warriors. In the playoffs, he had two games with 18 and 22 rebound. The Warriors won't need him to step up immediately because he's re-signed.

The Warriors and the NBA at large got a glimpse of where he stands after he averaged over ten points and five boards in four Las Vegas summer league games. After playing in only 39 NBA games, his role is uncertain as he heads into the 2022-23 season.

There is a person named "KendraAndrews."

JAMAL MURRAY | DENVER NUGGETS

Murray didn't return in the first round against the Warriors because he wasn't close to being ready.

The Nuggets point guard is expected to be ready for training camp in the fall, after missing all of last season due to a torn leftACL. Murray was injured against Golden State in April of 2021.

When Murray told reporters at the end of last season how hard it was to have good and bad days, he was in a good mood.

Murray needs to feel right. Being healthy is the most important thing. We won't have a problem once I feel like I can do everything that the game requires.

Since Murray made those comments, some changes have been made to the team. Prior to the start of free agency, Calvin Booth dealt Will Barton and Monte Morris to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith, as well as Will Barton and Monte Morris.

Murray gets a 3-and-D guard to play alongside, someone who can take more defensive responsibilities while he focuses on ramping back up to game speed.

Murray said in April that he was going to come back with a new style. The first few games will be rough. It will be at least a year and a half before I play again. The good days will be followed by the bad days. I have no doubts that I can return to my previous form.

Michael Porter Jr., who missed all but nine games last season because of a back injury, will be welcomed back by two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, and Jokic. The two are expected to be ready.

Murray said he's more bouncy than before. I think it's definitely stronger. I have been working out for a year. It will show when it all meshes up. I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to it.

The person is called Youngmisuk.

ZION WILLIAMSON | NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

The last time he played was against Golden State in May of 2021. His season debut was delayed due to a broken bone in his foot.

The debut never happened as Williamson missed the entire season due to injuries.

At the end of last season, he made it back to some 5-on-5 work, but was never cleared to play.

Stan Van Gundy was the coach of the player. Willie Green was hired by the Pelicans last summer after just one season. After starting 3-16 under Green, the Pelicans played over.500 the rest of the way and made the play-in tournament.

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Zion showed no mercy as he went one-on-one at his camp.

The late-season push was aided by the trade ofCJ McCollum by the New Orleans Pelicans. The Phoenix Suns are the No. 8 seed and will play the No.-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873-8873

The Pelicans took the Suns to six games with the help of three rookies. The season ended on a high note, but there were still questions about the future of the player.

When he returns healthy this season and moving forward, he will be a big part of their future because he agreed on a five-year max extension.

The person is Andrew Lopez.

BEN SIMMONS | BROOKLYN NETS

The Atlanta Hawks defeated Simmons in the Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. After requesting a trade out of Philadelphia last summer, Simmons was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a package that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Simmons didn't play for the Nets last year because of a back injury and mental health issues. The Nets are hoping that he will be ready for training camp.

Though Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons is on track to return in the 2022-23 season, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving might have played their last games with the Nets. Matt Slocum/AP Photo

In his introductory Nets news conference, Simmons talked about how much he was looking forward to playing with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but their statuses are in limbo. Irving is on the last year of his contract, and he asked for a trade out of Brooklyn. Simmons' status in Brooklyn is in question as the Nets decide if they want to build with him or if they want to move him somewhere else.

Right now in Brooklyn, anything is possible. Simmons needs to show the league he can still play. Simmons posted a picture of himself on the social media site earlier in the summer with the caption "feel incredible." Then he deleted his account a couple days later. Simmons has three years and $100 million left on his current contract. Simmons' situation is one of the most intriguing.

Friedell.

JOHN WALL | LA CLIPPERS

He sat out last year because he was on the wrong team. The Houston Rockets didn't have room in their rotation for the former five-time All-Star point guard, preferring to give those minutes and touches to Kevin Porter Jr. Houston should have paid Wall his salary to sit out.

He will try to revive his career on the Clippers after agreeing to a two-year, $11.2 million deal. After picking up the player option for the final season of his contract, Wall agreed to give back some of the money he was owed.

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John Wall decided to sign with the Clippers after accepting a buyout from the Houston.

The bill of health for a soon-to-be-32-year-old point guard with extensive injury history is as clean as possible, because of his history of injuries. A healthy year of training could benefit Wall in the future. He stayed in shape last season and is eager to get back in the NBA.

Wall, who averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists in 40 games for the Astros during the 2020-21 season, can help a team. The LA squad should benefit from his playmaking.

The person is Tim MacMahon.

KENDRICK NUNN | LA LAKERS

The last meaningful game Nunn played was in the first round of the playoffs in the year 2021. When the Lakers signed Nunn to a taxpayer's midlevel contract last summer, they were considered a steal. He didn't appear in uniform after the preseason. He had an ankle injury and was removed from the list.

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It was discovered that Nunn had a bone bruise in his knee. Nunn failed to return to the court and became the poster child for the Lakers' unfortunate decision-making in a season that went awry.

L.A.'s front office has not retained a single player brought in before training camp other than Nunn and Austin Reaves. Nunn will be considered a bargain at $5.25 million if he can replicate the type of production he showcased in Miami.

Nunn could get the chance to be the change-of-pace combo guard if L.A. is able to get another deal that doesn't include Nunn. We need to see how the rest of the Lakers' roster shakes out to accurately project what role Nunn could reasonably fill.

Dave Mc Menamin is a person.

DARIO SARIC | PHOENIX SUNS

He tore his right knee in the first game of the NBA Finals in 2021. While the Suns were playing the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs, he went under the knife to repair his knee.

Before his knee injury, Saric was a trusted backup for Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams, having also played for him in Philadelphia. In 50 games for the Suns, Saric averaged 8.7 points on 44.7% shooting and 3.8 boards.

The Suns have had to look at a lot of big men since Saric was hurt. Jock Landale, who played for the San Antonio Spurs last season, was traded for by the Phoenix Suns as a result of the signing of McGee. Phoenix followed up its trip to the Finals with a disappointing playoff exit that included a Game 7 loss to Dallas.

Big men are hard to find in the NBA. It is not known if Phoenix will wait out his rehabilitation process in order to get him back in the mix with the departures of Kaminsky and Smith.

Mc Menamin.

T.J. WARREN | BROOKLYN NETS

Warren hasn't appeared in a game since December of 2020. He missed most of the past two seasons due to stress reactions in his left foot, and had to have surgery in December. Warren was cleared to return to practice and play on the court in March. Warren was shut down for the rest of the season because the Pacers were already out of the playoffs. He is expected to be ready to play when the season begins.

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One of the major storylines out of the Disney World Resort was Warren's performance in the NBA in 2020. It looked like Warren had taken a leap with his skills, and Indiana had a strong core with him. Warren didn't get a chance to do it again. The core Warren was supposed to be a part of was broken up by the Pacers.

After more than 500 days, Warren entered free agency as a curiosity. He will attempt to reset his value on a one-year deal with the Nets, a team that is in serious limbo because of the uncertain futures of Irving and KD. Depending on whether one or both of those players suits up for the Nets in 2022-23, Warren could either play a supporting role on a contender or a major role on a rebuilding team.

There is a person named Jamal collier.

JONATHAN ISAAC | ORLANDO MAGIC

The last time we saw him on a basketball court, he was on the floor in pain after tearing his knee in August of 2020. As a result of the injury, he has missed each of the past two seasons, and he had to have a surgery on his hamstring in March to get him back on the field.

Through his first five NBA seasons, he has played just 136 games due to injury and an ankle injury, leaving his future in question.

The past two seasons, the Magic have been one of the worst teams in the league. The Magic have traded away veterans in favor of a full rebuild. The Magic have two top 10 picks from last year's draft and two more first-round picks from the 2020 draft in guards.

It's not clear where Isaac fits into that mix. With the amount of time he has missed, it's likely that he'll come off the bench behind Banchero and Wagner. If he can get back to what he was before his time away, he is a very intriguing talent: a 6-foot-11 forward with elite defensive tools and the potential to have a good jump shot.

Those kinds of players are rare and would be a good fit in the front court of the team. It's not possible to know what his body will be like after so long away.

There is a contract that is to be considered. The extension he had signed previously is now non-guaranteed because of the time he has missed. This is a big season for both of them to see if he will be a part of the future of the Magic.

The person is Tim Bontemps.