{"id":71169,"date":"2024-03-30T08:49:48","date_gmt":"2024-03-30T12:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=71169"},"modified":"2024-04-06T22:31:49","modified_gmt":"2024-04-07T02:31:49","slug":"grizzlies-derrick-rose-ziaire-willams-most-likely-scenarios-season-nears-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/30\/grizzlies-derrick-rose-ziaire-willams-most-likely-scenarios-season-nears-end\/","title":{"rendered":"Grizzlies Pair Gets &#8216;Most Likely&#8217; End-of-Season Scenario"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Memphis Grizzlies point guard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rosede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Derrick Rose<\/a> and forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willizi02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ziaire Williams<\/a> are \u201cmost likely\u201d out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, per Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins.<\/p>\n<p>The 35-year-old Rose, now in his 15th NBA season, is dealing with a right groin injury and lower back soreness. The 22-year-old Williams, now in his third season, has \u201ca Grade 2 strain of hip flexor and lower back muscles.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Derrick Rose, Ziaire Williams Get \u2018Most Likely\u2019 End-of-Season Scenarios<\/h3>\n<p>On March 5, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/05\/nba-news-grizzlies-pair-to-miss-multiple-weeks-due-to-injury-derrick-rose-ziaire-williams\/\" target=\"_self\">the team announced<\/a>\u00a0Rose would be re-evaluated in three weeks and Williams in four.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/memgrizz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@memgrizz<\/a> today announced the following medical updates: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AXm3Ij3Aj1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/AXm3Ij3Aj1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GrizzliesPR\/status\/1765098822089240628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Jenkins provided those promised updates, saying \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialappeal.com\/story\/sports\/nba\/grizzlies\/2024\/03\/29\/ziaire-williams-derrick-rose-injury-update-memphis-grizzlies\/73147418007\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">they&#8217;re doing well<\/a>\u201d (per Damichael Cole of Memphis Commercial Appeal).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost likely they&#8217;re not going to be coming back by the end of the season. We&#8217;re just kind of taking it day to day.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Derrick Rose<\/h3>\n<p>Rose has played in 24 games this season, averaging 8.0 points and 3.3 assists per game. He got off to a rough start but, overall, his efficiency has been outstanding. Rose shot 46.1 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from 3, knocking down 58.3 percent of his pull-up 2s and 54.5 percent of his pull-up 3s. A former MVP, Rose was brought on both to help the Grizzlies through Ja Morant\u2019s 25-game suspension and to be a mentor.<\/p>\n<p>Upon signing with Memphis, Rose revealed his message to the young star:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;m not here to babysit\u2026 to follow you around\u2026 to cheerlead. I&#8217;m here to push you.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Derrick Rose delivered a simple message during a recent conversation with Ja Morant<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;\ud835\udddc&#8217;\ud835\uddfa \ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude01 \ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddfc \ud835\uddef\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddef\ud835\ude06\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude01, \ud835\udddc&#8217;\ud835\uddfa \ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude01 \ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddfc \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude04 \ud835\ude06\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02 \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1, \ud835\udddc&#8217;\ud835\uddfa \ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude01 \ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddfc \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf1. \ud835\udddc&#8217;\ud835\uddfa \ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddfc \ud835\uddfd\ud835\ude02\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf5 \ud835\ude06\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02&#8230; I&#8217;m\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IMh5WPOUTW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/IMh5WPOUTW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 BASKETBALL ON \ud835\udd4f (@BasketballOnX) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BasketballOnX\/status\/1709222023551918527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 3, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Ziaire Williams<\/h3>\n<p>Williams was getting into a good rhythm himself before his injury. Experiencing common highs and lows early in his NBA career, Williams is averaging career-highs across the board. His best stretch came in February, as he averaged 12.8 points and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field.<\/p>\n<p>The 10th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Williams took some advantage of the Grizzlies\u2019 injury-ravaged roster. However, his play wasn\u2019t good enough to quell concerns about his potential. Williams ranks 23rd in his draft class in career points (1,131), 34th in career field goal percentage (42.6), 40th in career 3-point percentage (30.1), and 26th in career rebounds (388).<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word of Derrick Rose, Ziaire Williams<\/h3>\n<p>Rose and Williams are both under contract for one more season.<\/p>\n<p>For Rose, the 2024-25 campaign could be a retirement tour due to his age and injury history. His wrapping his career up with the Chicago Bulls is likely what all basketball fans want. After all, he became the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/watch\/video\/this-date-in-history-derrick-rose-becomes-youngest-player-to-win-mvp-5-3-11\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">youngest MVP in NBA history<\/a> in 2011 after leading the Bulls to 62 wins. However, as a standout player for the Memphis Tigers before being drafted, the Grizzlies can also provide him a poetic sendoff.<\/p>\n<p>To be clear though, there\u2019s no word on when or if Rose is considering retiring.<\/p>\n<p>For Williams, 2024-25 could be a make-or-break year. As previously mentioned, he&#8217;s underperformed relative to his draft position, entering the dreaded &#8216;bust&#8217; territory. He\u2019s still young enough to get it together. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies only have 15 roster spots and he\u2019s barely playing well enough to keep his, let alone be in the rotation.<\/p>\n<p>This may have been his best opportunity to prove himself though. Not only is forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/clarkbr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Clarke<\/a> set to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/27\/key-grizzlies-player-set-to-finally-return-after-a-year-absence-brandon-clarke\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">return to the lineup<\/a>, but rookie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jacksgg01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GG Jackson<\/a> has <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/21\/warriors-chris-paul-soft-spot-grizzlies-gg-jackson\/\" target=\"_self\">been turning heads<\/a> with his play since being in the rotation. So too has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willivi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vince Williams Jr.<\/a>, a second-round pick for Memphis in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the Grizzlies are projected to have a top-10 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. That selection could be Williams&#8217; replacement if they don&#8217;t believe they&#8217;ve found that player already.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Memphis Grizzlies point guard Derrick Rose and forward Ziaire Williams are \u201cmost likely\u201d out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, per Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. The 35-year-old Rose, now in his 15th NBA season, is dealing with a right groin injury and lower back soreness. The 22-year-old Williams, now in his third season, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":71170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32,1608,62,3],"tags":[95,4745,4392],"class_list":["post-71169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grizzlies","category-basketball","category-nba","category-news","tag-derrick-rose","tag-nba-injuries","tag-ziaire-williams"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}