Jaylen Wells is the starting guard for the Memphis Grizzlies. He has suffered a serious injury. This was during the game against the Charlotte Hornets. The injury occurred on a fast break dunk. This is when Wells collided with another player. Also, he fell terribly on his right wrist and head. This injury is likely to end his rookie season just before the playoffs. Continue reading to learn more about Grizzlies’ Jaylen Wells suffering a season-ending wrist injury.
About the Injury
The player was on the floor for eight minutes. This was right after the fall. Medical personnel lifted him onto a stretcher with his head strapped to prevent movement. He was then taken to the hospital. This is where the doctors confirmed that he broke his wrist. Moreover, Jaylen was alert and had movement in all his limbs. This was according to interim coach Tuomas Lisalo.
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Coach and Team Reactions
Coach Tuomas expressed concerns for Wells. He stated that it puts everything into perspective seeing that situation. Also, he commended Wells as a tough kid. He mentioned that he had a great session. The rookie’s father, Fred Wells, also shared that his son was alert enough to ask about the game score. This was while he was at the hospital. However, Jaylen experienced pain in his face, jaw and back.
He shared a message on social media after the game. Here, he posted an image of his bandaged arm with the caption, “Go Grizz”. Thus, this showed his determination and support for his team during a tough time.
The Incident During the Game
The injury happened during the second quarter of the game. This was played in Charlotte. The player received an outlet pass from his teammate, Ja Morant. As he prepared for his dunk, KJ Simpson, a rookie from the Hornets, accidentally undercut Wells. This caused him to lose
balance.
Wells landed awkwardly on his side. He hit his head terribly against the court. The impact shocked everyone in the arena. Also, fans and players fell silent watching him. Trainers rushed to help him on the spot. Thus, Simpson, who caused the fall, checked on Wells. He seemed visibly upset.
Game Delay and Foul Call
Due to the severity of the injury, the game experienced a delay of 23 minutes. Officials reviewed the play. Then, they assessed Simpson’s actions. Also, they ruled that he committed a Flagrant 2 foul. This means he made unnecessary and excessive contact. Thus, Simpson was directly removed from the game.
Wells received applause from the crowd. This was once he was stabilized and taken off the court. Moreover, he managed to raise his hand as he left the arena. This was despite his painful situation. This indicated he still had control of his limbs.
Wells’ Season Overview
Wells had an impressive rookie season. He participated in 74 of the 79 games he played for the Grizzlies. Also, the 6-foot-7-inch guard had average statistics of 10.5 points. He also had 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Thus, he showed great potential and played an integral role in the team’s success. Before the injury, Wells had not missed a game. This showed his durability. Also, his growing presence on the team made the injury even more difficult for both the players and fans.
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Grizzlies’ Performance Post-Injury
Following Wells’ injury, the Grizzlies faced challenges. They played against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their next game. Also, the Timberwolves won decisively with a score of 141-125. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 44 points. This contributed significantly to their victory.
The Grizzlies did their best. They are led by star player Ja Morant. He scored 36 points. However, without Wells, they struggled defensively against the Timberwolves. The absence of Wells hurt the team. This is especially since he likely would have been tasked with guarding Edwards during the game.
