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%).
