The Grizzlies will enter their December 17th game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a potential return of a player whose presence has been missed all season. Brandon Clarke has been one of the Grizzlies' best bench players since the team selected him with the 21st overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Along with the star tandem of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke is the only other player outside of John Konchar to remain with the organization since 2019. With Zach Edey expected to miss the start of the season, Clarke was expected to be the starting center as he healed from a season-ending knee injury last season.
However, a setback occurred about a week before training camp began, leading Clarke to have surgery on his knee and keeping him out of every game so far. Now, after missing the team's first 26 games of the season, Clarke is slated to make his season debut at a time the team needs him the most.
Clarke immediately helps their rebounding and defense
All eyes turned to Brandon Clake's return date when Zach Edey was ruled out for at least four weeks following a stress reaction in his left ankle on December 11th. The Grizzlies struggled without both players to begin the season, but reversed their fortunes once Edey returned to the lineup.
Their defense and rebounding immediately became high-level with Edey in the lineup, and were only expected to continue improving once Clarke returned. The Grizzlies missed Edey quickly as they gave up 130 points in a loss to the Utah Jazz on December 12th, and have been outrebounded by a total of 97-81 in their last two games.
Brandon Clarke can't replicate Edey's game to its full extent at his 6'8" frame, but his elite athleticism, combined with his basketball IQ, has made him the perfect complement next to Jaren Jackson Jr. in the front court. His ability to switch to guard nearly anybody on defense and hustle as a rim-running big man has been missed by the Grizzlies from that position.
He is officially upgraded as questionable for their game against Minnesota after being listed as doubtful against the Clippers. The Grizzlies typically bring their players back from long-term injuries in the same pattern, with them playing after the upgrade from doubtful to questionable. Clarke's game has been missed, and now the team doesn't have to wait for his energy to return to the basketball court.