The 2024-25 season, the success of which largely will depend on health and availability for the Memphis Grizzlies, suffered its first setback in late August. An awkward landing during a Dallas-area workout led to forward GG Jackson breaking the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot.
The Grizzlies open camp on Oct. 1, but they aren’t expected to be without the 6-foot-9 wing for too long. Jackson, 19, underwent surgery on Sept. 5 and will be reevaluated in three months.
Dr. Kenneth Jung, an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, provided clarity on what that time will be like for Jackson in an interview with The Commercial Appeal.
The first step is probably the most boring part of the process. Jackson’s bone will need to heal before he moves forward in his rehab.
“Basically, it’s like waiting for the paint to dry,” Jung said.
GG Jackson's healing process
Jung estimates that once the bone is stabilized, it will take six to eight weeks to heal and be strong enough to withstand a load.
Based on the Grizzlies' schedule, this puts Jackson on track to have a healed bone by the end of October. The team opens regular-season play on Oct. 23 in Utah versus the Jazz.
“And then from there, that last few weeks, you’re building up adding activity load to where it’s closer to basketball activity,” Jung said.
He added that the Grizzlies’ level of caution will determine the timeline. Coach Taylor Jenkins often talks about how the Grizzlies are careful to not rush players back from injuries, so that should be expected in this case.
Explaining the three-month timeline
If the bone was to heal in eight weeks, he would have the entire month of November to ramp up his workload.
The Grizzlies have multiple reasons to play it safe here. One is the fact that Jackson is a 19-year-old who the franchise heavily invested in long term. But they also are positioned to survive if he's not available.
If there was a higher competitive sense of urgency, Jung believes that the three-month timeline has enough “wiggle room” to result in a quicker return.
“Three months is a pretty safe number,” Jung said. “He’s just got to be able to get into basketball-shape physically and mentally.
" . . . Whether he’s back to full expectations of what the fans and coaches expect, that may be a different number.”
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Career outlook
Jackson shouldn’t have any setbacks with the injury unless the bone is healing slowly. Too much early activity or weight-bearing are things that could slow the healing process.
Upon Jackson’s return, there shouldn’t be much change in his performance. He may wear a different shoe to better support his foot. Plenty of NBA players opt for lighter shoes to help with quickness, but those aren’t always the most supportive.
Long term, Jung says, Grizzlies fans shouldn’t be too concerned about Jackson.
“This is something that’s not a career-threatening injury,” he said. “Once you get it to heal, you should be back able to go on it full-go without any detriments going forward. Especially in a 19-year old.”
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.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: GG Jackson's injury timeline: Foot doctor explains why Grizzlies fans shouldn't be worried
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