Memphis Grizzlies forwards Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justise Winslow will not be ready for the start of the upcoming season.
Grizzlies vice president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman told reporters Wednesday night that Jackson and Winslow will still be recovering from injuries when the 2020-21 season starts next month. Kleiman said it is “unfortunate that the NBA season ended up starting a little bit earlier than we were budgeting for.”
Jackson suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee in early August while the Grizzlies were playing in the NBA’s bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida.
The Grizzlies said at the time of the injury that Jackson was expected to make a full recovery, but Kleiman said Wednesday that the promising forward “is still going to be out a minute” when asked about his availability for the start of the season.
Kleiman did not provide a timetable for when the 6-foot-11 Jackson will return.
Winslow, who suffered a hip injury during a practice in July, is expected to return early in the season but may not be ready on “Day 1,” according to Kleiman.
Jackson, 21, averaged 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 57 games last season.
The injury-plagued Winslow, 24, averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds in 11 games with the Heat last season, but has not yet played for the Grizzlies since being acquired in a trade in February.