NBA All-Injured Team

With the frantic pace that the 2011-2012 NBA season began and the little time that players had to prepare, injuries were inevitable and have hit some of the game's biggest stars. 

Players like Derrick Rose, Dirk Nowitzki, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade have all experienced stretches where they have had to sit in a suit behind the bench due to an injury. 

Fortunately for their teams, each of those guys has returned to the court and is able to play again. 

The following list will outline some of the NBA's biggest stars who have not yet been lucky enough to return to action. 

Some of them will miss only a game or two and some are out for the season. Here are the best players who are currently injured, broken down into two teams by position. 

Hopefully they can all recover and get back onto the court soon.

2nd Team Point Guard, Jason Kidd

In only the seventh game he has been able to play this season due to other problems, the ageless Jason Kidd went down with a calf injury just two minutes into a recent game against the Utah Jazz. 

Kidd is expected to be out with the calf strain for at least a week, and is relieved that it was not a more serious injury.

Fortunately for the Dallas Mavericks, reserve point guard Rodrigue Beaubois has played well filling in for Kidd.

2nd Team Shooting Guard, Eric Gordon

Eric Gordon was supposed to be the new star player that the New Orleans Hornets received in return for trading Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Instead, Gordon has missed all but two games so far this season with a knee injury, and is estimated to be out for several more weeks. 

Despite the injury, the Hornets plan to work towards signing Gordon who will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. 

2nd Team Small Forward, Nicolas Batum

Luckily for Nicolas Batum, his recent knee injury appeared to be much more serious than it really was. 

Diagnosed with a left knee contusion, it is still unclear whether or not Batum will sit out a few games for the Portland Trail Blazers and is listed as day-to-day.

If he is unable to play, the Trail Blazers will miss Batum who is averaging 11.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. 

2nd Team Power Forward, Al Jefferson

Al Jefferson has missed a couple of games with an inflamed right ankle. 

Jefferson was out for a game this week against the Portland Trail Blazers, and could miss a big one at home against the Los Angeles Clippers. 

The Jazz showed that they have enough big men to fill in for Jefferson, but he is missed for his consistency and veteran leadership.

2nd Team Center, Andrew Bogut

Andrew Bogut's career is beginning to be defined by his injury history, and this season is no different. 

Bogut, who has missed a lot of time due to various injuries in the last few seasons, landed on an opponent's foot in a game against the Houston Rockets and fractured his ankle.

The timetable for his return is not definite at this time, and his loss is huge for the already struggling Milwaukee Bucks who is in the middle of another frustrating season.

2nd Team Sixth Man, Andrea Bargnani

Andrea Bargnani was the bright spot of the Toronto Raptors this season up until he re-injured his calf that had already caused him to miss six games this season. 

Bargnani played well in the Raptors two road wins in between his injury troubles and will be missed by the Raptors. 

Without Bargnani in the lineup this season, the Raptors have won only one game.

1st Team Point Guard, Steve Nash

Steve Nash suffered a bruised thigh late in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies that has caused him to miss one game already. 

It is unclear when Nash, who is close to breaking the Phoenix Suns franchise assist record held by Kevin Johnson, will return to the court. 

Nash could come back as early as the first part of February and is listed as a game-time decision against the New Orleans Hornets. 

When he does return, he needs only seven assists to surpass Johnson.

1st Team Shooting Guard, Manu Ginobili

The San Antonio Spurs suffered a huge early season loss when leading scorer and emotional leader Manu Ginobili broke his left hand. 

After playing in only five games this year, Ginobili's hand required surgery that will keep him off the court up to eight weeks.  

Without Ginobili the Spurs have managed to have a winning record at 10-7 and 13-9 overall but will welcome him back to the team when he is able to play.

1st Team Small Forward, Luol Deng

After tearing a ligament in his left wrist and sitting out several games, it is all up to Luol Deng and how he manages the pain for the rest of the season. 

Doctors have determined that Deng cannot make the injury any worse by playing on it, and he is looking to return to the team soon. 

Deng would like to avoid surgery for as long as possible, and will try to play with the injury to his non-shooting wrist. 

1st Team Power Forward, Zach Randolph

After a great playoff run last season, the Memphis Grizzlies had big expectations heading into this year.

After only four games, the team lost Zach Randolph to a torn MCL in his right knee.

Originally expected to miss about eight weeks, it is looking likely that Randolph will miss the entire season. 

The Grizzlies, who relied heavily on Randolph last year, have had to turn to Rudy Gay who missed parts of last season with an injury of his own, to lead the team and make up for Randolph's absence. 

1st Team Center, Al Horford

The Atlanta Hawks were off to a great start this season and hoped that this would be the year they would get deeper into the playoffs. 

Those expectations became more difficult to realize in mid-January when Al Horford tore his left pectoral muscle in a game against the Indiana Pacers. 

The injury required surgery and Horford will miss at least three months of this already shortened season. There is a chance that he may not make it back at all this year.  

Despite the injury, the Hawks continue to play well and are only a half game behind the Miami Heat in the Southeast division. 

1st Team Sixth Man, Rajon Rondo

Although he could return to the court for the Boston Celtics soon, Rajon Rondo has missed the last seven games for his team with a wrist injury.

Rondo has not played since he fell and injured his wrist in a game against the Toronto Raptors.

Fortunately for Rondo, tests did not reveal any structural damage and he has a chance of playing again soon.

Without Rondo in the lineup, the Celtics have played to a 5-2 record.

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