The Memphis Grizzlies have been handicapped by injuries all throughout the 2023-24 season and now, following Saturday's 118-88 blowout loss to the Orlando Magic, their hardships have now officially entered the league's all-time record books.
Hours before tip-off, the ball club had agreed to terms on a 10-day contract with third-year guard Zavier Simpson, a move likely influenced by the latest intel on Derrick Rose's availability status.
Despite not having any familiarity playing with his new teammates or a real understanding of coach Taylor Jenkins' schemes, the 27-year-old checked into the game at the 8:56 mark in the fourth quarter.
With this happening, Simpson became the 31 person to log minutes with the Grizzlies this season, thus setting the NBA record for most players to see action for a team in a single league year.
The previous record was 30 which, unsurprisingly, Memphis had also set.
Grizzlies set record for most players to log minutes in a single season
ITS OFFICIAL! NEW NBA RECORD!
— KJ (@kelwright) March 31, 2024
With Zavier Simpson checking into the game tonight, that makes 31 players who have logged minutes for the Grizzlies this season… breaking the previous record of 30.
Wow.
Though this record is certainly not one that ball clubs tend to covet, without such turnout the Grizzlies likely wouldn't have been able to find their diamond in the rough-type talents that have established themselves as legitimate long-term commodities.
From Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson to, more recently, Scotty Pippen Jr., GM Zach Kleiman has managed to add several high-upside talents to the team's rotation over the last several months.
While it's hard to stay completely positive when being bombarded with such injury woes, had it not been for these hardships, there's an argument to be made that perhaps the state of Memphis' future talent pool wouldn't appear as promising as it currently is.