Grizzlies wing Vince Williams Jr. suffered a third-degree right ankle sprain and will be reevaluated in four weeks, the team announced Thursday. Williams suffered the injury in the second quarter of Memphis' game against the Nuggets on Tuesday.
It's a tough blow for Williams, who missed the first 12 games of the season due to a stress reaction in his left leg that he suffered in September. The former VCU player returned to an NBA court on Friday. In his two and a half healthy games, he averaged 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
After returning from that injury, Williams was immediately part of the rotation, with the Grizzlies dealing with injuries throughout the lineup, including Yes Morant, Zach Edey And GG Jackson. Although Memphis is healthier than last season and has improved their depth, it's still a tough blow for a team looking to compete for a playoff spot. Memphis is 9-7 and eighth in the Western Conference, which begins Thursday.
Williams, who was in his third year in the league, spent the first year and a half of his time in the NBA on a two-way contract. When Memphis was dealt a brutal hand in terms of injuries last year, Williams stepped up and earned a contract upgrade, averaging 10.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 44.6% from the field and 37 .8% shot from three assists.
With Williams out and John Konchar Missed Wednesday's game due to illness, two-way player Cam Spencer appeared and played for almost 10 minutes. It could be that he will continue to see minutes without Williams as the Grizzlies get healthier.
