Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. will undergo a procedure on his left big toe that will keep him out for the start of the 2025-26 season and more than likely longer, the team announced on Oct. 18.
Pippen will undergo a sesamoidectomy to address ongoing discomfort in the toe. A sesamoidectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove one or both sesamoid bones beneath the big toe joint.
Pippen is expected to make a full recovery, the Grizzlies said. He’ll be reevaluated in 12 weeks, according to ESPN’s Sham Charania.
Memphis initially signed Pippen to a two-way contract in January 2024 after he spent parts of his first two NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He became one of the team’s most productive players in the second half of the 2023-24 season and was later rewarded with a standard contract in October 2024.
Pippen played in 79 games last season, averaging 9.9 points and 4.4 assists.
The backcourt was considered the strength of the Grizzlies before the preseason, but injuries have limited the group’s impact. Ja Morant didn’t play in the preseason due to a left ankle sprain, and Pippen missed the final three preseason contests with the toe injury.
Free agent signee Ty Jerome injured his right calf on Oct. 17 in the preseason finale against the Miami Heat. No update has been given on Jerome yet, but one is expected after he’s further evaluated in Memphis.
Morant has hinted at the idea of being back soon. He has been progressing and doing more work with the team since suffering his ankle injury on Oct. 4.
The Grizzlies could go into the season opener on Oct. 22 against the New Orleans Pelicans with Morant and Javon Small as the two available point guards. Small, a rookie second-round pick, has been one of the team’s most impressive players in preseason.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.