Grizzlies' Scotty Pippen Jr. Reportedly Will Have Surgery on Toe Injury, Out 12 Weeks

The Memphis Grizzlies reportedly will start the season without a key member of the rotation.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, guard Scotty Pippen Jr. will have surgery on his left big toe injury and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.

Pippen went undrafted in 2022 but has become a success story for the Grizzlies over the past few seasons. He joined the team during the 2023-24 campaign but emerged as an everyday player last season.

He played 79 games and started 21 last year, putting up 9.9 points, 4.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while playing 21.3 minutes per contest. The Grizzlies dealt with numerous injuries last year, and Pippen stepped up in a big way.

While he played significant minutes a season ago, he might not get quite as much action this year. Memphis signed Ty Jerome in free agency this offseason, and he will presumably play backup point guard behind Ja Morant, with Pippen serving as the third option.

Jerome was a Sixth Man of the Year candidate last year when he averaged 12.5 points, 3.4 assists and 2.5 boards for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Even though Pippen's role likely isn't going to be as significant as it was last season, his absence to start the year means Memphis can't afford any injuries in its backcourt.

That might be a bit of a challenge considering Morant is dealing with an injury heading into the year. Morant suffered a sprained ankle in practice earlier this month.

Morant downplayed the possibility of him missing the Grizzlies' season opener, however, which is a good sign he'll be ready to go.