The NBA offseason is officially underway, and two promising young stars are taking proactive steps to ensure they're fully healthy for the upcoming campaign. Both Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey and Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray recently underwent successful ankle surgeries, with each player expected to be back on the court well before training camp begins.
For Giddey, the procedure was an arthroscopic cleanup on his right ankle—a nagging issue that has bothered him on and off for the past couple of years. The Bulls announced the surgery was a success, and Giddey is slated to begin basketball activities in roughly three months, putting him right on track for the start of training camp. Despite being limited to just 54 games last season—mostly due to a hamstring injury—Giddey enjoyed a career year. He averaged career highs of 17 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting a solid 36.4% from beyond the arc. Chicago locked him in with a three-year, $75 million extension last season, making his health a top priority for the franchise's future.
Out west, Murray underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his ankle, according to James Ham of The Kings' Beat. The recovery timeline is even shorter here—six to eight weeks before he's back on the hardwood, ensuring he'll be ready for training camp. Murray's season was derailed by a sprained ankle that first sidelined him in January. He attempted a return in February but aggravated the injury after just four games, ultimately shutting him down for the remainder of the season. In total, he appeared in only 23 games, averaging 14 points per game while struggling with his shot as the injuries mounted. The Kings clearly believe in his long-term potential, having signed him to a five-year, $140 million extension that kicks in next season.
Both players are now focused on recovery and getting their bodies right. For fans, the encouraging news is that these aren't major structural repairs—just cleanups to ensure there's no lingering discomfort when the season tips off. With training camp still months away, both Giddey and Murray should be ready to hit the ground running, and their respective teams will be counting on them to make an immediate impact.