Ahead of the regular season, there’s some encouraging news regarding the injury of Memphis Grizzlies’ Marcus Smart.
The NBA landscape witnessed a significant change in the offseason when the Boston Celtics traded away former Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart, to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal that involved sending former All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis to Boston.
This marks a fresh chapter in Smart’s career, as he’ll be starting a season with a team other than the Celtics for the very first time. The Grizzlies, a youthful and ambitious squad, are set to make good use of Smart, especially with Ja Morant facing a 25-game suspension. However, Smart has yet to make his preseason debut with his new team due to a core injury.
During Memphis’ recent preseason game, Smart was notably absent, and head coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned that his status is being assessed on a day-to-day basis. Jenkins spoke to the press on the following day, providing a slightly updated estimate for Smart’s debut with the Grizzlies.
According to Drew Hill from The Daily Memphian, Coach Jenkins confirmed that Smart wouldn’t be available for the team’s third preseason game on Thursday. Nevertheless, Jenkins expressed optimism that Smart would be ready to start the regular season on October 25 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Smart has been actively participating in on-court practices and engaging in weight training. Encouragingly, Jenkins reported that Smart’s abdominal discomfort is diminishing, indicating that he’s approaching full practice readiness.
In the previous season, the Grizzlies concluded with a strong 51-31 record, tying for the fifth-best in the league. However, they faced early playoff exits for the second time in three seasons, prompting changes during the offseason.
The addition of Marcus Smart is a significant development for Memphis, particularly as they now boast the last two recipients of the Defensive Player of the Year Award on their roster, with Jaren Jackson Jr. in the frontcourt.
Beyond his defensive prowess, Smart is known for his skills as a playmaker and facilitator, averaging a career-high 6.3 assists per game last season.
Although Smart isn’t quite ready for his debut with the Grizzlies, it’s evident that he’s making progress in his recovery from the injury, and he is expected to be available when the regular season kicks off.
Leave a Reply