Beset by injuries, Grizzlies seek silver linings vs. Pelicans

The Memphis Grizzlies are beginning the 2025-26 NBA season where they ended last season: trying to navigate through a rash of injuries.

When the Grizzlies open Wednesday night at home against the New Orleans Pelicans, the list of available players will prevent Memphis from playing at full strength.

Starting big man Zach Edey is recovering from offseason ankle surgery and will not be available until sometime in November.

Reserve Brandon Clarke, sidelined with a high-grade PCL sprain in his right knee in March, also is out. He underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in late September and will be reevaluated in about a month.

Reserve guard Scotty Pippen Jr. underwent a procedure on his left big toe last week and will be reevaluated in 12 weeks. Pippen became one of the team's most productive players over the past two seasons.

Ty Jerome, a key acquisition during the summer, suffered a right calf injury in the team's final preseason game and will be out for at least four weeks.

Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., the team's anchors and former NBA All-Stars, will be available, but they were sidelined for much of the preseason. Morant suffered a left ankle sprain in practice Oct. 5 and didn't play any preseason games.

Jackson was initially expected to miss the start of the season after undergoing a procedure in July to address a right toe issue, but he returned to action for the team's final two preseason games.

The developments present challenges for first-year coach Tuomas Iisalo, who took over for Taylor Jenkins late last season. But Iisalo said it has also allowed him to get a better look at some of the newcomers.

Second-round pick Javon Small finished the preseason strong with 34 points and 13 assists across the final two games. Iisalo said those reps were invaluable to the point guard who will now get extended minutes with Pippen and Jerome sidelined.

"Overall, there's always a silver lining to some of the injuries," Iisalo said. "As much as you would like everybody to be healthy and develop that chemistry, there's always something positive coming out (by giving the younger players additional minutes). I'm sure it will pay off during the season."

New Orleans has endured a similar problem with injuries. Kevon Looney, expected to start at center for the Pelicans, suffered a ligament sprain in his left knee during an Oct. 5 preseason game and won't play in the opener. Neither will point guard Dejounte Murray.

But coach Willie Green will have oft-injured veteran Zion Williamson back and healthy.

"Commending him on the work he did this summer in the gym, getting right," Green said. "When he steps on the floor (with no health issues) he is one of the best players in the league."

Williamson, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2019, has missed 268 games in his career and appeared in 214. He missed 52 games last season. He owns a career scoring average of 24.7 points per game.

Green also is looking forward to a potential boost from first-round pick Jeremiah Fears, a former college star at Oklahoma. Fears averaged 18 points in the team's final two preseason games and 13.8 over the course of the preseason.

--Field Level Media