Grizzlies All-Rookie forward to have surgery on broken foot

Jackson averaged 14.6 points per game last season and was named to the All-Rookie second team. He put up 44 points in the Grizzlies’ final game of the season, showing tantalizing promise during a year where he was the youngest player in the NBA.

Now he’s out indefinitely after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, an injury that will require surgery. Foot injuries are always touchy with basketball players. Two years ago, Jaren Jackson, Jr. of the Grizzlies missed the beginning of the season after undergoing foot surgery that summer.

Memphis has high hopes of returning to title contention after an injury-ravaged 2023-24 season. Ja Morant played only nine games after a shoulder injury ended his season. Desmond Bane missed 40 games and new Grizzly Marcus Smart missed 62. Center Steven Adams missed the entire season while Brandon Clarke played only six games.

With rookie Zach Edey being the team's only significant summer addition, Memphis is banking on the team being much healthier. That seemed reasonable after a season where the team's projected starters missed two-thirds of their games. But Jackson's broken foot shows that the Grizzlies terrible injury luck hasn't worn off yet.