Unicaja Malaga has started the new Liga Endesa season facing several challenges, including key injuries to important players. The team’s captain, Alberto Diaz, suffered a left thigh injury during the opening game against Real Madrid on September 27, which ended in an 89-87 loss. Diaz described the injury as a "broken something" and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks. His coach, Txus Vidorreta, called it the worst news of the evening. To address the injury crisis, Unicaja signed former NBA player Matt Thomas as a temporary solution for the backcourt position. Thomas, 32, is 1.91 meters tall and signed for two months with an option to extend until the end of the season. He is expected to replace Tyler Kalinoski, who has been out since the start of the season due to an ankle injury. Thomas previously played in Spain for Obradoiro and Valencia, where he won the Eurocup in 2019. He also had stints in the NBA with teams like Toronto, Utah, and Chicago, and later played for Panathinaikos and ALBA Berlin. Last season, he was with Grenade before joining Besiktas in January 2026. The club is also dealing with other injuries. Yannick Nzosa has a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his left foot and will be out for several months. Tyson Pérez has an Achilles tendon injury that requires surgery. During the game against Madrid, Unicaja only had nine players available. Vidorreta noted that the club is actively looking to strengthen its roster in the transfer market. This season, Unicaja has reshaped its roster around the new coach, who previously worked with La Laguna Tenerife. Willy Hernangomez, who joined from FC Barcelona, and Amine Noua, a French forward who signed after a season with Aris Salonique, both performed well against Madrid, scoring 20 and 18 points respectively. Unicaja, a double winner of the FIBA Champions League in 2024 and 2025, was eliminated in the semifinals of the 2026 edition by AEK Athens.