Memphis Grizzlies center Isaiah Stewart will miss the regular-season opener with an ankle injury.
The team announced Friday that Stewart has a moderate left ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
The Grizzlies tip off the season at home against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 21. The timeline means he could be available for the second game on Oct. 23 against the host Golden State Warriors.
Stewart, 25, sustained the injury in the first quarter of Monday’s preseason opener against the host Atlanta Hawks.
Memphis acquired Stewart and the remainder of his four-year, $60 million contract during an offseason trade with the Detroit Pistons. He has a base salary of $15 million for this season and a $15 million team option in 2027-28.
He averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, a career-high 1.6 blocks and 22.7 minutes in 58 games (13 starts) last season with the Pistons. Stewart has career averages of 8.8 points and 6.8 boards in 365 games (194 starts) with Detroit.
Stewart has been suspended five times by the NBA, most recently last February for seven games for leaving the bench during a brawl between the Pistons and Charlotte Hornets.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Stewart with the 16th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and soon traded him to Detroit, where he made the NBA All-Rookie second team in 2020-21.
–Field Level Media
