Jaren Jackson Jr. is expected to miss the early portion of the upcoming season due to his stress fracture surgery recovery, but the Memphis Grizzlies fans can take a breath of relief regarding the long-term status of the big man.
In an interview of Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Damichael Cole, Dr. Kenneth Jung, who is an orthopedic specialist in foot and bone fractures, has detailed the said injury while noting that Jackson will return to his normal state once he completes his full rehabilitation.
“Obviously once the bone heals, whether it takes two months or three months, then you’re starting to work back into basketball shape,” Jung said. “That’s why they may have given themselves a little leeway, whether it’s four months or six months. He’s got to get built back up to be able to play an entire season. The other part is his body will de-condition somewhat while he’s letting the bone heal. You’re going to need some time to build that back up to get back onto the court.”
Memphis announced in late June that they expect Jackson to be out for four to six months, which may land into November to January timeframe.
The former No. 4 overall pick of the 2018 Draft provided the much-needed paint protection for the Grizzlies last season as the league leader in blocks (2.3). He also averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 boards, 1.1 assists in 41 percent shooting for the West’s second-seeded club for 78 games.
In lieu of his long absence, Brandon Clarke, Xavier Tillman, and Ziaire Williams are expected to step up in order to accompany the promising Grizzlies squad to another season of elevation.
