What happened to Jaren Jackson Jr. after $240,000,000 extension? Ja Morant’s teammate suffers nightmare injury, return timeline explored

The Memphis Grizzlies announced on Tuesday that star center Jaren Jackson Jr. has suffered a significant injury while participating in an offsite live basketball run. According to the team’s official release, Ja Morant’s star teammate sustained a turf toe injury on his right foot and will undergo surgery based on medical recommendations.

The news comes just one day after Jackson inked a massive five-year, $240 million contract extension with the Grizzlies. While the team has not provided an official timeline for his return, it is widely expected that the former Defensive Player of the Year will miss the start of the 2025-26 season.

Trending

According to senior NBA insider Brian Windhorst, Jackson’s injury is comparable to the turf toe issue that hampered Darius Garland during the playoffs. Windhorst added that Jackson could need up to five months to fully recover from the setback.

"A turf toe injury like we just seen with the Darius Garland situation is typically 4 to 5 months recovery process," Windhorst said on NBA Today.

Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. was overjoyed after signing his massive $240 million extension with the Grizzlies. On Monday, the two-time All-Star took to X (formerly Twitter) to reflect on his journey in Memphis, sharing a few heartfelt posts expressing his gratitude to everyone in the organization and city who has played a role in shaping his life and career.

Fans react to Jaren Jackson Jr.'s injury

Social media erupted the moment the Memphis Grizzlies released an update on Jaren Jackson Jr.’s injury and the steps ahead in his recovery process. NBA fans didn’t hold back, sharing raw and honest reactions as news of the Grizzlies’ crushing setback spread across the basketball world.

A fan said:

𝙏𝙚𝙯

@tezfrm901

LINK

void the contract

Another fan said:

Steven Adams Stats

@funakistats

LINK

So clearly there’s a chance he misses the start of the season or they would have ruled that out as a possibility. Hoping not… but not looking good.

A fan commented:

willieranks3 🇺🇸🏀🏈⚾️🎶🎤

@williederrick3

LINK

Bruh 🤣😂😆…. the avalanche is starting early … Ja will be in n a 2Pac crash out at this rate

Another user commented:

Overchicken

@Overchicke86803

LINK

And yet we gave him that contract...

We are really the worst injured team in the league

Despite a season plagued by injuries across the Memphis roster, Jackson Jr. delivered another standout campaign. The star center stepped up in a major way, averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He also shot an efficient 48.8% from the field, including 37.5% from 3-point range, further solidifying his status as one of the league’s most versatile big men.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback

About the author

Atishay Jain

Atishay Jain is a sports aficionado and an avid follower of the NBA and WNBA, with a deep admiration for LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Content Manager with Sportskeeda's basketball team.

Atishay's career spans both Indian and international sports coverage, with a keen interest in cricket, football, basketball, and tennis. His previous roles at News9Live and Sports Tak included live blogging, anchoring sports shows, and participating in debates.

A graduate in Journalism from the Center for Management Studies in Bengaluru, India, Atishay brings a wealth of experience and passion to his work in sports media.

Know More