Memphis Grizzlies centre Steven Adams is set to undergo season-ending surgery for a knee injury, the team announced Sunday
According to the team, Adams is getting surgery on his right posterior cruciate ligament after "non-operative rehabilitation did not resolve ongoing knee instability."
He played in two of the team's preseason games, Oct. 8 against the Pacers and Oct. 12 against the Hawks. He played for 11 minutes and 15 minutes respectively. He would then go on to miss the final two preseason games against the Heat and Bucks.
Adams, 30, missed 40 games last season including the team's final 35 regular season games and their first-round playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers as he dealt with the knee injury.
He averaged 8.6 points and 11.5 rebounds last season, including 5.1 offensive rebounds which led the league in the category.
Behind him on the depth chart, the Grizzlies can play Xavier Tillman or reigning Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. at the five.
The Grizzlies already are short-handed without guard Ja Morant — serving a 25-game league suspension for flashing a handgun on social media for the second time in three months — and Canadian big man Brandon Clarke without a timetable to return after an Achilles injury in March.
Adams joined the Grizzlies at the start of the 2021-22 season after one season in New Orleans. He played in Oklahoma City during his first seven years in the league. The 30-year-old Adams has averaged 9.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in his 10-year career.
-- With files from the Associated Press
