How Memphis Grizzlies injuries resulted in an unfortunate record-setting NBA season
The final game of the Memphis Grizzlies' season perfectly summed up the unusual situation the team has dealt with since October.
The Grizzlies played the Denver Nuggets on Sunday at FedExForum without 13 players. Only two players remained from the 15-man roster. Each of the remaining six active players had been acquired since January.
It finally came to an end in a 126-111 loss to the Nuggets. The 2023-24 season won't be remembered as a season filled with team success, but it was a record setter because of injuries.
The Grizzlies set an NBA record by using 33 players. The constant roster changes led to 51 starting lineups being used, also an NBA record. They lost a total of 578 games due to injuries, another league record.
Preseason unavailability takes away continuity
There was hope that former Grizzlies starting center Steven Adams would return to full strength and anchor the frontcourt after missing the last three months of the 2022-23 season. He looked solid in two preseason games and participated in practices, but his knee didn't respond the way he and the team hoped. Adams underwent knee surgery and was declared out for the season. He was traded in February to the Houston Rockets.
In addition, Ja Morant was suspended the first 25 games of the season because of what the NBA determined to be conduct detrimental to the league, and newly acquired Marcus Smart missed a chunk of the preseason due to abdominal soreness. Smart returned and played the first regular-season game, but he assumed a heavy role for someone who had missed time and was learning a new system.
Three of the five projected starters suffered setbacks before the season even got going.
NBA MISTAKE: NBA says clock 'error' led to extra time being played during Grizzlies' loss to Lakers
Injury bug bites the Grizzlies
After a string of nagging injuries in the first two months, Memphis was rounding into form in late December. Morant made his season debut Dec. 19 and Smart returned shortly after from an ankle injury. Along with Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies had four of their five projected starters on the floor.
Jackson, Bane and Morant each averaged more than 20 points per game while on the floor together, and Smart's connectivity was noticeable. It was a fun stretch, but it didn't last long.
Morant and Smart suffered injuries midway through January that sidelined them for the remainder of the season. Bane also missed two months and briefly returned for five games in March.
Derrick Rose, Vince Williams Jr., Ziaire Williams and Yuta Watanabe all had played their final games of the season by March 9.
Jackson was the only player on the Grizzlies roster to appear in more than 65 games. He played in 66 before being shut down after dealing with right quad tendinitis throughout the season.
HONORING MORANT: Memphis Grizzlies' star Ja Morant to be inducted into Murray State Hall of Fame
Constant roster movement
The Grizzlies used a total of 12 injury hardship exceptions plus one suspension exemption gained during Morant's absence. The list of long-term injuries throughout the season allowed them to apply for 10-day contract waivers.
Memphis traded Adams, David Roddy and Xavier Tillman Sr. at the deadline, and injuries meant being undermanned and suffering lots of losses.
But that also meant opportunity for some players. GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. took advantage as much as anyone. Both players started the season on two-way contracts before receiving four-year standard deals and being promoted to the 15-man roster. Jacob Gilyard was waived after closing in on the 50-game limit.
A total of six players played the season on two-way contracts for the Grizzlies, another NBA high.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Memphis Grizzlies injuries resulted in NBA-record setting season
