Just two days after agreeing to a five-year, $240 million extension with Jaren Jackson Jr., the Memphis Grizzlies announced that their star big man underwent surgery to repair a turf toe injury in his right foot. Jackson suffered the injury during “a live basketball run offsite” and will be reevaluated in 12 weeks but is expected to make a full recovery.
It’s a cruel twist of fate for Memphis, and for Jackson individually; the team and player have both dealt with significant injury issues the past few seasons. Jackson played in 74 games in 2024-25 — the second-most in his career — but he suffered an ankle injury late in the season. Jackson also missed significant time in 2023-24, when the Grizzlies were the team most impacted by injury in the NBA according to Spotrac’s calculations, which factor in player salary. In 2020, Jackson suffered a torn meniscus in the bubble and missed much of the 2020-21 season recovering.
Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. to sign $240M extension that will keep him out of 2026 free agency, per report
Robby Kalland
Jackson is coming off a career year after winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Last season, he averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game on 48.8/37.5/78.1 shooting splits to earn him All-Star honors for the first time.
The Grizzlies, who traded Desmond Bane earlier in the offseason, are retooling with Jackson and Ja Morant as their headliners. However, Jackson is now the third Memphis big man dealing with injury this offseason alone. Zach Edey had ankle surgery and Brandon Clarke is coming off a PCL sprain.
