Grizzlies Rule Out Scotty Pippen Jr. With Back Injury
Memphis sits Pippen Jr. against the Pacers as the guard deals with a back ailment that has kept him out of two straight games.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
The Memphis Grizzlies ruled out guard Scotty Pippen Jr. for their game against the Indiana Pacers due to a back injury. It is his second consecutive missed game, and head coach Tuomas Iisalo expects him to be day-to-day or week-to-week.
Why it matters
Pippen Jr. has been a rotation contributor early this season, so his absence affects Memphis depth while the team holds a 6-1 record. The expected timeline suggests the injury has not been classified as serious.
Pippen Jr. shot 42.3 percent from the field, 22.2 percent from three and 80 percent from the free-throw line through the first five games. His shooting efficiency is the key metric to watch once he returns, as the three-point figure is well below his overall production.
The players
Scotty Pippen Jr.
Scotty Pippen Jr. is a guard in his fourth season with the Memphis Grizzlies, having originally gone undrafted before developing into a rotation player.
Tuomas Iisalo
Tuomas Iisalo is the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, overseeing the team's rotation and player management decisions.
The details
Pippen Jr. last played October 29 against the Portland Trail Blazers, finishing with two points in 14 minutes. The Grizzlies have not announced a specific return date, and the guard has been managing a back injury that required him to miss consecutive contests.
Timeline
2022: Pippen Jr. went undrafted in the NBA Draft.
2023-24: He signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies.
October 29, 2026: His last game before the injury, a win over Portland.
November 4, 2026: Ruled out for the Indiana Pacers game.
Season Trajectory
Pippen Jr. has moved from an undrafted prospect on a two-way contract to a standard-deal rotation player with a team option for 2027-28. The injury arrives while Memphis is off to a 6-1 start, so depth at the guard spot becomes a factor in the team's early competitive position.
Fantasy managers rostering Pippen Jr. should expect his minutes and counting stats to be unavailable until he is cleared. Grizzlies depth in the backcourt will likely absorb his rotation minutes in the interim.
The takeaway
Injury updates for role players often come in short windows, so checking the team's injury report before lineup decisions helps readers track changes as they happen. Pippen Jr.'s next status update will clarify whether the day-to-day or week-to-week projection holds.
Further reading
For more on the team, see Basketball coverage of the Memphis Grizzlies' early-season results.
