Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. is expected to be reevaluated in 12 weeks after suffering a right turf toe injury, the team announced July 2.
Jackson will undergo a procedure after he suffered the toe injury in an offsite basketball setting, the team said July 1.
The timeline puts Jackson on pace to reevaluated around the start of training camp. If everything goes well, Jackson will likely begin a ramp-up period that will include targeting five-on-five action and physical contact before being cleared for games.
The time of the ramp-up and Jackson’s progression will determine if he can be back by the start of the regular season.
When Jackson last suffered an offseason injury, he missed the first 14 games of the 2022-23 NBA season and went on to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award after returning.
Jackson’s injury news came one day after he reportedly agreed to a five-star $240 million contract extension to remain in Memphis.
The good news for Memphis is it also agreed to a contract extension with his backup. Santi Aldama reportedly will sign a three-year $52 million deal.
If Jackson misses any time at the start of the season, Aldama should be expected to fill in as a starter.
The 6-foot-10 Jackson, who agreed to a five-year, $240 million extension with the Grizzlies on Monday, injured his right foot while participating in offseason basketball activities and is expected to make a full recovery.
The 25-year-old Jackson, a first-round draft pick in 2018, earned his second All-Star selection last season, when he averaged 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in 74 games for the Grizzlies, tied for the second-most games of his career. He was honored as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for 2022-23, when he led the league with 3.0 blocks per game.
Fellow Grizzlies big man Brandon Clarke is recovering from a high-grade PCL sprain in his right knee that ended his season in March, but he avoided surgery and is expected to be back for the start of next season.
Memphis was swept by eventual champion Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs in April.