In recent years, the Memphis Grizzlies have built a reputation for being one of the most resilient teams in the NBA. They once again displayed that trait this season following starting point guard Mike Conley’s scary fracture to his vertebrae, winning seven of the eight games after the injury to race up to fifth place in the competitive Western Conference. And recently, reports have surfaced that Conley, who was originally expected up to two months, is already nearing a return.
Citing league sources, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, reported Thursday that Mike Conley could return to the Memphis Grizzlies’ lineup soon. The team waived replacement guard Toney Douglas – signed under the league’s hardship waiver – a move that is seen to pave the way for the return of injured Grizzlies players that also include Chandler Parsons and James Ennis. As noted by the report, Conley has been medically cleared to get back to working out.
Before the injury, Mike Conley looked poise to make the first All-Star team of his career, averaging 19.2 points and 5.7 assists. He signed a league record five-year, $153 million contract this offseason. Chandler Parsons, for his part, signed with the Grizzlies for four years and $94 million last July. He has only played in six games so far for the team, struggling with a slew of knee problems. He had a right knee surgery this past offseason and has also battled a bruise to his left knee. He has averaged just 7.7 points and three rebounds in the games he has played.
With the injuries to Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, the Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol has been on a tear—leading the team to five straight wins, and scoring over 25 points in four of those games, including a 28-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple double performance in the team’s a double overtime win against the New Orleans Pelicans, and a 36-point, nine-rebound game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
