Report: Mike Conley to miss extended time with fractured vertebrae
After a magical start to the 2016-17 NBA season, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley just got hit with a hard dose of reality.
According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Tuesday, Conley has a transverse process fracture in his vertebrae and is expected to miss at least six weeks of action.
Conley, 29, had put up averages of 19.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game in 17 appearances this year. Finally able to play in proper spacing and tempo under new head coach David Fizdale, Conley actually appeared to be living up to the enormous sum that he commanded over the offseason to remain in Memphis.
Rookies Andrew Harrison and Wade Baldwin IV are next up in the point guard pecking order, but neither is a particularly inspiring option. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Grizzlies, who have gotten off to a somewhat impressive 11-7 start to the season, return to a more post-oriented attack in Conley’s absence out of necessity.
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