When will the Memphis Grizzlies center be back on court?

Steven Adams’ injury has been a devastating blow to the Memphis Grizzlies. They continue to battle for a top spot in the Western Conference, but have a huge void in their frontcourt.

During a matchup against the Phoenix Suns, Adams suffered a sprained PCL. The Grizzlies later announced that the veteran center will miss three-to-five weeks to recover.

Since the initial report, there has been no Steven Adams injury update. Going off the timeline provided, the earliest he might return to the court is February 15th against the Utah Jazz.

Before being sidelined with injury, Adams was one of the top rebounding big men in the NBA. He still leads the league in offensive rebounds per game (5.1) and is top five in total rebounds per game (11.5).

Along with being a force on the glass, Adams was also finding ways to be effective on offense. His 8.6 points per game are his highest since the 2019 season.

Given that he is a key piece for the Grizzlies on both ends of the floor, they hope to get him back in the lineup as soon as possible.

How has the Steven Adams injury affected the Memphis Grizzlies?

The Steven Adams injury has hurt the Memphis Grizzlies in a big way. They have struggled tremendously since the 29-year-old big man was sidelined.

In the six games Adams has missed, the Grizzlies have a record of 1-5 and four of the losses have been by double-digits.

As expected, the biggest area that Adams is missed is on the glass. Before he was injured, Memphis was a top-five rebounding team in the NBA. Over their last six games, they’ve dropped all the way down to 25th.

The Steven Adams injury impacted the Grizzlies’ defense as well. With Adams on the court, they had the third-highest defensive rating (110.2) in the league. Taylor Jenkins has been forced to run a smaller lineup over the past week, and in that span their defensive rating has dropped to 23rd-best (117.8).

Even though Adams is just a role player, he is a vital piece for the Memphis Grizzlies. He anchors the defense, and his elite-level rebounding aids them on both ends.

On top of being one of the top rebounders, Adams is also known for his screen-setting skills. This is vital for Memphis as he is able to create space for Ja Morant to get downhill and attack the rim.

With just a two-game lead over the third seed Sacramento Kings, the Grizzlies have a small margin of error before they start to fall in the standings.