Grizzlies Lose 13-Year NBA Veteran After Season-Ending Surgery

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery on his right pinky finger.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Memphis Grizzlies announced that backup guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will miss the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season after undergoing surgery to address misalignment in his right pinky finger. Caldwell-Pope, a 13-year NBA veteran, had been a reliable reserve for the Grizzlies, averaging 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 51 games this season. The Grizzlies are already dealing with injuries to several key players, including star guard Ja Morant, who will miss at least the next eight games due to a UCL sprain in his left elbow.

Why it matters

The loss of Caldwell-Pope is a significant blow to the Grizzlies, who are already struggling with injuries and trying to remain in playoff position in the Western Conference. The veteran guard had been providing valuable minutes off the bench, and his absence will force other players to step up and fill the void.

The details

Caldwell-Pope joined the Grizzlies last offseason after being traded from the Orlando Magic. In 51 games this season, he had been a reliable backup, averaging 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He had even scored 15 points in the Grizzlies' narrow loss to the Golden State Warriors just before the All-Star break. However, the team announced that Caldwell-Pope underwent surgery to address misalignment in his right pinky finger and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

  • On Wednesday, the Grizzlies announced that star guard Ja Morant will need at least two more weeks to recover from a UCL sprain in his left elbow.
  • On Thursday, the Grizzlies revealed that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his right pinky finger.

The players

Ja Morant

The star guard for the Memphis Grizzlies who will miss at least the next eight games due to a UCL sprain in his left elbow.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

A 13-year NBA veteran who was a reliable backup guard for the Grizzlies, averaging 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 51 games this season. He underwent season-ending surgery on his right pinky finger.

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What’s next

The Grizzlies have a tough upcoming schedule, with games against the Utah Jazz, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers over the next two weeks. It remains to be seen if the team can weather the storm of injuries and remain in playoff position in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

The loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a significant blow to the Grizzlies, who are already dealing with injuries to several key players. The veteran guard had been a reliable backup, and his absence will force other players to step up and fill the void. This latest setback highlights the Grizzlies' struggles with injuries this season and the challenges they face in trying to remain in playoff contention.