
Enjoying a surprisingly successful campaign that currently has them in playoff position, the Memphis Grizzlies will now have to overcome an injury hurdle to one of their brightest young players. Second-year big man Jaren Jackson Jr. sustained a knee injury in the second quarter of Memphis’ 117-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and is set to miss multiple weeks.
According to a release from the team, Jackson suffered a sprained left knee and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
The @memgrizz today provided a medical update on Jaren Jackson Jr. pic.twitter.com/aLwRzIG7e3
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) February 23, 2020
For a team hoping to lock down a final playoff seed in an unforgiving Western Conference, losing someone of Jaren Jackson Jr.’s caliber at this juncture of the season is devastating, even if it is only for a couple of weeks. The 28-28 Grizzlies currently hold a three-game edge over the 9th place Portland Trail Blazers who are missing a star of their own as Damian Lillard recovers from a groin injury.
Considered to be an afterthought coming into this season due to their youth, the Grizzlies have took much of the NBA world by surprise. Rookie guard Ja Morant has a very real chance of winning the Rookie of the Year award this season while Jackson himself continues to develop into one of the league’s better big men in his sophomore year.
Morant and Jackson are also surrounded by plenty of young talent including Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke and others. With Jackson out for at least two weeks, expect Clarke, Gorgui Dieng and perhaps even Josh Jackson to pick up more minutes in his absence.