NBA: Grizzlies C Steven Adams to undergo season-ending knee surgery

The Grizzlies said in a news release that the surgery on Adams’ right cruciate ligament is necessary because “non-operative rehabilitation did not resolve ongoing knee instability.”

Adams, 30, played in 42 games last season and averaged 8.6 points, a career-high 11.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

Memphis Grizzlies starting center Steven Adams will have right knee surgery and miss the 2023-24 season, the team announced Sunday.

The Grizzlies said in a news release that the surgery on Adams’ right cruciate ligament is necessary because “non-operative rehabilitation did not resolve ongoing knee instability.”

Adams sprained the ligament as he dove for a loose ball in a 112-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 22. It originally was estimated he’d miss three to five weeks, but after he underwent a stem cell injection on March 8, he was ruled out for the season.

He played in two preseason games for the Grizzlies, scoring nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 27 total minutes.

Adams, 30, played in 42 games last season and averaged 8.6 points, a career-high 11.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.

The No. 12 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City, he has played with the Thunder (2013-20), New Orleans Pelicans (2020-21) and Grizzlies.

He has career averages of 9.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 blocks in 706 games (641 starts).

Xavier Tillman is next on the depth chart for the Grizzlies. Tillman, 24, averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 61 games (29 starts) last season.

In 173 career games (43 starts), all with Memphis, he has averages of 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists.