Grizzles guard Ben McLemore will be out 3 months
By Nick Denning
The Memphis Grizzles announced that Ben McLemore, who joined the team this summer, has a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot.
Ben McLemore of the Memphis Grizzles will be out for three months after injuring his right foot, the team announced today. The injury is a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metatarsal.
Metatarsals are the five long bones in the middle of your foot. Fracturing the fifth bone is common among foot injuries. A non-displaced fracture means the bone hasn’t slipped out of place, which is good news for treatment and recovery.
McLemore injured the foot during a pick up game in Los Angeles. He successfully underwent surgery, and the team expects him to make a full recovery in up to 12 weeks.
Injury update on @BenMcLemore:https://t.co/L0r9Zz8YhD
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) August 8, 2017
Still, this is unfortunate. McLemore joined the Grizzles this summer after four inconsistent seasons with the Sacramento Kings. After Sacramento declined his option, the Grizzles signed him to a two-year, $10.2 million contract.
At 6-foot-5, McLemore is a natural shooting guard with good athleticism. Selected 7th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Kings hoped he would develop into a strong scoring option on the wing. However, injuries and different coaching staffs limited his development, in part.
Last season, he averaged 8.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game. His points per game dipped from the previous season, but he shot a career high 43 percent from the field and 38 percent from the 3-point line.
His spot up shooting has improved each season, but his ball-handling and ability to score off the dribble are viewed as areas for improvement. At 24, he has time left to develop, but the injury is undoubtedly a setback.
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If out for three months, McLemore should return around mid-November. He shouldn’t miss a lot of the regular season, but missing training camp and preseason will make it harder to earn a spot in the rotation. Still, better for it happen before the season than during.