Grizzlies’ Isaiah Stewart (Ankle) Out At Least Two Weeks

Big man Isaiah Stewart suffered a moderate left ankle sprain in the first quarter of Monday’s preseason game in Atlanta and will be reevaluated in two weeks, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter).

Based on that reevaluation timeline, Stewart will miss not only the rest of the preseason but also the start of the regular season. Memphis’ regular season opener is on Oct. 21, with the team’s second game set for Oct. 23 — exactly two weeks from today.

The Grizzlies acquired Stewart from the Pistons in July as part of a six-team trade. The former first-round pick (16th overall in 2020) is entering his seventh season in the league and his first outside of Detroit.

Stewart averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 58 regular season appearances in 2025/26 (22.7 minutes per game). The 25-year-old center/forward is one of the NBA’s premier rim protectors, as opponents shot just 40.1% near the basket against him last season.

Stewart said last month that he was “excited” to join a young Memphis team after helping the formerly rebuilding Pistons rise dramatically up the standings the past two seasons.

“It’s an experience I can bring here to this group,” Stewart said. “And also just letting them know it’s about patience. We have to stack days. It doesn’t happen overnight.”

The Grizzlies, who are dealing with a roster crunch this fall, have several frontcourt players who could receive more minutes with Stewart sidelined. That group includes Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey, Quinten Post and Taylor Hendricks, among others.