Scotty Pippen Jr. Faces Season-Ending Injury With Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies’ 2025-26 season has been plagued by injuries, and the latest setback hits one of their most promising young guards. On March 13, 2026, the team announced that Scotty Pippen Jr. will undergo a sesamoidectomy to treat persistent pain in his right big toe. The procedure effectively ends his regular season and requires him to wear a surgical boot during recovery.
The sesamoidectomy involves removing a small bone in the tendons of the big toe, typically to relieve chronic pain or fractures. While the Grizzlies stated that Pippen is expected to make a “full recovery,” rehabilitation is extensive. Initial recovery usually takes 8–12 weeks to resume normal activity, with full healing often extending up to six months. The first two weeks post-surgery will require strict non-weight-bearing rest, sidelining him as Memphis navigates the final stretch of the season.
For Scottie Pippen, a six-time NBA champion, this is a tough moment as his son was beginning to carve out his own path in the league. After struggling to find his footing early in his career, Pippen Jr. had emerged as a key contributor for Memphis, especially with Ja Morant dealing with elbow issues. This season, he averaged 11.4 points, 4.7 assists, and led the team with 1.9 steals per game, earning a reputation as the Grizzlies’ primary perimeter defender.
Pippen Jr.’s injury adds to an already long list of Grizzlies sidelined this season, including Morant (left elbow UCL sprain), Zach Edey (season-ending ankle injury), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (finger surgery), Brandon Clarke (calf strain), and several others, leaving the team thin in multiple areas.
The focus now shifts to Pippen Jr.’s recovery and preparation for the 2026-27 season. Given his resilience—evident from his college career at Vanderbilt and overcoming the challenge of going undrafted—he is expected to tackle the rehab process with determination, aiming for a full return to the court next year.
Leave a Reply