Grizzlies’ Steven Adams to Miss Entire 2023-24 NBA Season

The big man will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

The Grizzlies announced Sunday that center Steven Adams will miss the entire 2023–24 season after undergoing right knee surgery.

Adams missed the end of the 2022–23 season due to a knee injury and according to the team, “non-operative rehabilitation did not resolve ongoing knee instability.” As a result, he’ll undergo surgery on his right posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). 

This is a massive loss for a Memphis squad looking to repeat its regular season success after finishing as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference last year. The team’s season eventually came to a crashing halt when the Grizzlies were upset by the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. 

BREAKING: Steven Adams is out for the rest of the season pic.twitter.com/E4PLXN1hpm

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 22, 2023

Adams, 30, played in 42 games last season where he averaged 8.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Not only was he a force on the glass, but Adams is considered to be one of the best defensive big men in NBA. The enforcer was crucial to the team’s defensive identity and now they’ll need find a way to fill the massive gap down in the middle. 

The Grizzlies start their season Wednesday against the Pelicans with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.