Pippen Jr. Out 12 Weeks After Procedure
The Memphis Grizzlies have been hit with an early-season blow, as guard Scotty Pippen Jr. will undergo surgery on his left big toe and miss at least the next 12 weeks, the team announced.
Ongoing Discomfort Leads to Procedure
Pippen Jr., who started 21 games for the Grizzlies last season, has been dealing with "ongoing discomfort" in the toe. The team said he will undergo a sesamoidectomy, a procedure to remove one of the small bones in the toe, in order to address the issue.
Impact on Grizzlies' Depth
The loss of Pippen Jr. is a significant one for the Grizzlies, who were already facing depth questions in the backcourt. The 23-year-old guard averaged 9.9 points, 4.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game in his rookie campaign, providing valuable minutes behind star point guard Ja Morant.
Grizzlies' Early-Season Schedule
Memphis opens the season with a home matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. They then face a tough early stretch, including games against the Warriors, Pistons, Thunder and Kings before a showdown with the Lakers on October 29.
TL;DR
- Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. will undergo surgery on his left big toe and is expected to miss at least 12 weeks
- Pippen Jr. has been dealing with "ongoing discomfort" in the toe, prompting the team to schedule a sesamoidectomy procedure
- His absence is a significant blow to the Grizzlies' backcourt depth as they face a challenging early-season schedule