Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke will miss the remainder of the 2022–23 season after suffering a left Achilles tear early in Friday’s 113–97 loss to the Nuggets, the team announced Saturday.
Clarke, 26, played just one minute before exiting Memphis’s road matchup in Denver with a non-contact leg injury near the end of the first quarter. The team ruled Clarke, who was seen grabbing the back of his leg before he went down, out for the rest of the contest. The fourth-year forward was later seen leaving Ball Arena in a golf cart.
Saturday’s news deals a devastating blow to both Memphis and Clarke, a former first-round pick who recently signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension in October. Clarke has played a pivotal sixth man role over the past few seasons, and was in the midst of another promising campaign, posting averages of 10 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.5 minutes per game. He also ranks fourth in the NBA in field goal percentage (65.6%).
With Clarke now lost for the year, the Grizzlies (38–24) and coach Taylor Jenkins are now facing the unfortunate task of having to replace a key contributor in the rotation with the season nearing its end. In his absence, forwards Santi Aldama and Xavier Tillman figure to see an increase playing time.
Currently ranked second in the West behind Denver (45–19), the Grizzlies will have their work cut out for them over their final 20 games. The club currently sits just a game ahead of the third-place Kings (37–25) and four games in front of the Suns (35–29).
In addition to losing Clarke, Memphis will be without Ja Morant for the foreseeable future with the star guard stepping away from the team for at least the next two games.
