The injury bug has plagued the Memphis Grizzlies over the last several seasons, and it doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Most recently, after Shams Charania announced on June 30th that Jaren Jackson Jr. would be signing a five-year, $240 million contract extension with the Grizzlies, the team announced the injury bug’s next victim.
The injury, known as turf toe, was sustained during the offseason, and Jackson Jr. had to undergo a procedure that would kickstart his recovery over the summer. Jackson Jr.’s timeline to return is reportedly the beginning of next season, if everything goes as planned. That said, the number of minutes he plays will depend on the status of his injury once October rolls around.
Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, this injury adds to the growing list of players who have recently missed time. Earlier this summer, another Memphis big, Zach Edey, suffered an injury that required surgical intervention. Edey had already dealt with an ankle injury in the regular season, but it was re-aggravated when he sprained it for a second time during a workout. He will most likely have to miss the beginning of next season, though the exact amount of time is yet to be determined.
Despite injury setbacks, Memphis found strength in its supporting cast
Memphis’ playoff run was arguably cut short last season due to injuries alone; Ja Morant, Jaylen Wells, and Brandon Clarke were not 100% available for the Grizzlies during the postseason. This made a huge impact on the team’s ability to move past the eventual NBA Champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, despite the loss, the fight the team displayed on the postseason stage should not be forgotten, as they worked through these injuries and setbacks to give themselves a real chance.
One bright spot for the Grizzlies is their ability to integrate new players into the rotation, giving everyone on the roster a chance to contribute and garner some playing time. Last season, the Grizzlies looked to their bench and two-way talent to fill in some of the gaps as the team battled injuries. John Konchar helped increase the team’s rebounding percentages off the bench while Zach Edey got time to rest. Cam Spencer provided a spark of energy for the team and put his three-point shooting abilities on full display.
Strategic moves position Grizzlies for a strong return
All this to say, hope is not lost for Memphis even with that lingering injury bug. There are already a lot of talented pieces on the team, and the latest NBA Draft has given them even more depth. Cedric Coward, Javon Small, and Jahmai Mashack are all getting ready to make an impact.
Not only did the Grizzlies add three new rookies to the team, but they have also been active in trades and free agency, adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ty Jerome, Jock Landale, and PJ Hall (two-way) to the roster. Grizzlies fans should be very excited for what’s to come as the team continues to work toward bringing a championship to Grind City.