The Memphis Grizzlies released medical updates on the four injured Grizzlies, and Mike Conley will have season-ending surgery on his heel.
I guess we kind of saw this coming, right? I thought without a doubt that getting Conley back was a long shot, but season-ending surgery? That’s what the Memphis Grizzlies organization released Saturday afternoon via social media.
Conley, coming off of one of a career year last season, re-aggravated his left heel injury from the past two seasons. In years prior, Conley has had a similar injury where his heel just needed to get back into shape, but it become worse this season.
Sidelined most of this season due to “left heel soreness,” Conley went through rehab workouts and only played in 12 games.
Everyone had it in the back of their minds that Conley would — and should — be shut down for the season. On Saturday, the inevitable happened when the Grizzlies announced his season-ending surgery to his heel. The Grizzlies diagnosed Conley with a “small bone protrusion in his left heel,” but will be back in time for the training camp prior to the 2018-2019 season.
As the season progresses, expect to see a lot of Dillon Brooks, Wayne Selden, Ivan Rabb and hopefully Kobi Simmons. With Conley out, the Grizzlies might gear more towards a youth movement to close the season as the playoffs look like a faraway longshot.
Next: Grizzlies: Parallels to the 1996-97 Spurs
What is a bone protrusion?
According to the Lasers Spine Institute, here’s what a bone protrusion exactly is:
"“A bone spur, or an osteophyte, is a small, smooth projection that develops on the surface of a normal bone. Bone spurs can develop for a variety of reasons; one of the most common reasons is in response to friction — for instance, the friction that occurs within joints.”"
The Beale Street Bears staff wish Mike Conley safe surgery, and a speedy recovery for his comeback next season.