The Grizzlies will start the NBA season without one of their big men for the second year in a row.
In 2022-23, starting power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was sidelined for the team's first 14 games due to a foot injury. In 2023-24, backup big man Brandon Clarke won't be available due to an Achilles injury.
Since being selected with the No. 21 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Clarke has established himself as one of the better reserves in the NBA. Prior to his injury in the 2022-23 season, he was averaging 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting a career-best 65.6 percent from the field.
What's next for Clarke? Here's everything we know about his injury and the latest news on when he may return to the court.
What is Brandon Clarke's injury?
Clarke suffered an Achilles injury on March 3, 2023.
He checked into a matchup with the Nuggets with 2:07 remaining in the first quarter. Two minutes later, he suffered a non-contact injury following a free throw attempt and had to be helped off the court.
Here's a video of the Clarke's injury:
Brandon Clarke suffered a left leg injury and had to be helped to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/GerWlifo8H
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) March 4, 2023
The Grizzlies announced the following day that Clarke had been diagnosed with a torn left Achilles, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.
How long will Brandon Clarke be out?
On March 4, 2023, the Grizzlies announced that Clarke would be out indefinitely.
The recovery time from a torn Achilles varies, but most athletes aren't cleared for full activity until "at least six to nine months after surgery." That timeline makes a return in the 2023-24 season possible for Clarke.
For now, the Grizzlies don't have a particular return date in mind.
"We haven't set a schedule, but if we had, he's ahead of it," Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman said of Clarke during the offseason. "I'm not going to set any timeline on what's obviously a serious longer-term injury, but Brandon's doing really well.
"We continue to expect that he very likely will be back for a good portion of the coming season."
Clarke's absence opens up more opportunities for Santi Aldama, Xavier Tillman, Kenneth Lofton Jr. and David Roddy.
Brandon Clarke career stats
- 21.3 minutes per game
- 10.7 points per game
- 5.6 rebounds per game
- 1.4 assists per game
- 0.9 blocks per game
- 0.7 steals per game
- 0.7 turnovers per game
- 60.4 percent field goal shooting
- 29.0 percent 3-point shooting
- 70.5 percent free throw shooting
Brandon Clarke contract
Clarke signed a four-year $50 million rookie extension which kicks in this season. Clarke is guaranteed to make $12.5 million each season until the 2026-27 season. He'll become a free agent in the summer of 2027.
| Year | Age | Base salary |
| 2023-24 | 27 | $12,500,000 |
| 2024-25 | 28 | $12,500,000 |
| 2025-26 | 29 | $12,500,000 |
| 2026-27 | 30 | $12,500,000 |
| 2027 | 30 | UFA |
*contract details via Spotrac.
