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Grizzlies’ Guard Injury Crisis Could Define the NBA’s Early Season

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Aleksandar Mishkov | Last updated Oct 18, 2025 5:23 PM ET

If you are a Memphis Grizzlies fan, you might already be feeling the pressure of the new season. The Grizzlies hoped to begin the season strong after making a couple of moves in the summer. Yet, right now, their backcourt depth chart reads more like a medical report than a rotation list. The injury to Scotty Pippen Jr. is the latest blow to the rotation and depth. Currently, it appears that the Grizzlies lack a starting-quality guard on their roster.

Grizzlies’ Guard Injury Crisis Could Define the NBA’s Early Season

The Grizzlies were already facing rotation problems after the injuries to Ty Jerome and Ja Morant. Jerome is currently on a day-to-day schedule to return to the court, but there is no clear indication he will play in the season opener. Morant is also day-to-day with an ankle injury.

According to Shams Charania, Scotty Pippen Jr. suffered a left big toe injury. He will undergo a procedure and will be re-evaluated in three months. That means he will surely be out until mid-January. Pippen was one of the reasons why the Grizzlies were confident in trading Desmond Bane this summer for future picks. He had a great showing during last season’s playoffs, but now he will miss a significant portion of the regular season.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. will undergo a procedure for a left big toe injury and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 18, 2025

Who Will Be the Grizzlies’ Starting Point Guard on Opening Night?

The Grizzlies have a couple of healthy guards on their roster, but they all play shooting guard. That list includes John Koncar, Cam Spencer, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Jerome started the final preseason game, but played only four minutes before injuring his calf.

The Grizzlies open the season on October 22. Will they have a healthy point guard by then? We will have to wait and see.

The Schedule Problem

The Memphis Grizzlies cannot afford to come out of the gate and lose a couple of games. The Western Conference will be extremely tough this season. Six of their first ten games come against last year’s contenders. They also play five teams that will jostle for playoff positioning: the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Lakers.

There will be no free games to begin the season. With Scotty Pippen Jr. sidelined due to injury, and Jerome and Morant battling their own problems, the Grizzlies might lose a playoff spot in the first month of the season.

Oct 6, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) dribbles around a screen set by forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (18) on Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Grizzlies’ Injury Woes

The Grizzlies have more issues beyond their guard rotation. Two of their frontcourt contributors will miss the beginning of the season as well.

Zach Edey will return to play sometime in December, while Brandon Clarke will be evaluated by the end of November or early December. To put it simply, the Grizzlies may have five of their rotation players out for opening night. That is not a good way to begin a season in which you want to compete. The good news is that Jaylen Wells, their late pick from last year, looks amazing in the preseason. He was the leading scorer in three of the five games they played.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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