The NBA season has been filled with great moments, performances, and highlights, despite the coronavirus pandemic that has affected the entire world. With every team gunning for a championship, the league is sprinkled with superstar duos that are capable of taking over any game. Unfortunately, just like in any NBA season, injuries are part of the game. As a result, some  star players are forced to go solo.

Superstars going solo aren’t really ideal for any team, as it not only increases pressure on the remaining star to perform at his peak, but it also risks him to injury as well due to the heavier load. Although this situation isn’t ideal, some superstars have handled it quite well which is a testament to their greatness.

Despite being without their injured partners, they still have managed to become individually great enough to keep their teams relevant for the postseason race. For this piece, let’s take a look at five NBA superstars this season who have thrived without their injured sidekicks.

LeBron James

LeBron James kept the Lakers in the Top Three seeds in the grueling Western Conference despite star center Anthony Davis going down with a calf injury in a game against the Denver Nuggets in February. He also averaged 25.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game during Davis’ absence which even allowed him to make a strong case in the MVP race.

With James around, the Lakers still managed to look like a contending team. Defying Father Time, the reigning Finals MVP continued to be a dominant all-around player and averaged a heavy 32 minutes per game. In fact, he even led the Lakers to two big blow out wins over the dangerous Golden State Warriors. James also tallied a 37 point outing in a 11 point victory against the Charlotte Hornets.

Unfortunately after that game, James suffered a high ankle sprain that has kept him out of action ever since last month, after a collision with Solomon Hill during a scramble for the loose ball. This has forced the Lakers to play without their injured stars. To aid their playoff hopes, the team had to scramble for pieces in the buyout market which came in the form of All-Star center Andre Drummond and streaky shooter Ben Mclemore.

But before James went down with an injury, he certainly played like he was still in his prime years. If James and Davis finally return in full health come the NBA Playoffs, it will be hard to imagine a team that can keep in step with the Lakers.

Damian Lillard

As Portland Trail Blazers fans know, the team had to endure the absence of CJ McCollum for about two months after he suffered a fractured left foot. Because of this, a lot of the pressure were on the shoulders of Damian Lillard. Normally, a team that has lost its major scorer would struggle.

But despite the absence of McCollum, Lillard took his game to another level as he put up 31.2 points and 8.5 dimes per outing. At the same time, the Blazers went on a respectable 13-10 record during that stretch which was enough to keep the team afloat for an NBA Playoffs birth.

Sure, other rotation players such as Carmelo Anthony, former Blazer Gary Trent, and Enes Kanter, who just recently broke the franchise record for most rebounds in a game with 30, stepped up their games during that stretch, the leadership burden to keep the team relevant fell onto Lillard’s shoulders. As an elite scorer, he punished opponents inside and from way outside the paint. Furthermore, his playmaking ability has also forced opposing teams to think twice on defense. Because of Lillard's elevated play, the Blazers didn't need to worry about losing a great amount of games.

Trae Young

The Hawks have been a revelation this NBA season, as they emerged from a cellar dweller into a team that has taken the fourth seed in the East. It is worth noting that for the most part, this being done despite the absence of breakout player De’Andre Hunter. A big reason why the team is still successful this season is that Young has been phenomenal for the Hawks this season. With the team’s third leading scorer suffering a knee injury in late January that has sidelined him for multiple games, Young has had to take his game to another level.

The one time All-Star is averaging 24.0 points and 9.8 dimes per game since the absence of Hunter. With his leadership and the fine play of John Collins, the Hawks have become looked like a legitimate contender in the East that can finally end their postseason drought.

Once Hunter returns back in full health, who knows how much more heads can the Hawks turn this season with Young also making waves in his rise to superstardom. Nevertheless, the 6’1 guard has thrived this season and has finally translated it to team wins.

Stephen Curry

With Klay Thompson’s return this season halted after he suffered a Achilles’ tendon during the offseason, Stephen Curry has been the main focal point of the Golden State Warriors for the majority part of the season. Although the Warriors aren’t the hot shooting champions everyone feared before, Curry has continued to help keep his team competitive. The Warriors are currently sitting at the ninth seed with a 28-29 win-loss card, which still gives them a chance to make the playoffs by participating in the Play-In Tournament.

Curry has been individually fantastic this season, despite the absence of the other half of the Splash Brother. He is the second leading scorer in the NBA with 31.0 points per game and the league leader in total points of the season with 1,521. Furthermore, he is shooting 49% overall from the field and 42.7% from rainbow country. Aside from this, the seven time All-Star found himself making history by having at least ten straight games with him reaching the 30 point mark. The only other players who have accomplished this feat are no other than former fellow Warrior Wilt Chamberlain and the late Kobe Bryant.

A big key to Curry’s scoring prowess has been his three point shooting. In fact, Curry broke the NBA record for most three point field goals made in a three game stretch. The Warriors star made 29 shots from beyond the arc. If Curry can sustain his hot shooting, then the Warriors could  make some noise in the postseason despite the absence of Klay Thompson.

Nikola Jokic

With Jamaal Murray going down with a left ACL injury, the Denver Nuggets lost a scoring option that averaged 21.2 points per game for the rest of the season. Although this is a big monkey wrench to the Nuggets’ bid for a deep playoff run this year, the presence of Nikola Jokic has been a steady force for Denver.

Since Murray went down with an injury, the Nuggets are on a two game winning streak that saw them take victories over the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets. The Joker has been terrific in that stretch by putting up 23.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists per game including a triple double against the Heat where he registered 17 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.

As long as Jokic can maintain his high level of play, the Nuggets could still be a competitive team. In fact with his elite all around play, it is highly possible that the Nuggets might still be able to pull of some wins in the postseason. Although this is easier said than done, given that there is a big Murray scoring hole in the rotation, this is a great opportunity for Jokic to solidify his rise as an elite superstar which will only make his case stronger to take home the NBA MVP trophy this season. It is worth noting that the Joker is already the number one favorite in the MVP race. With or without Murray, the Joker finds a way to thrive which makes him arguably the best big man in the league today.