National Basketball Association

Grizzlies PG Mike Conley reportedly suffers fracture in vertebrae

Published Dec. 9, 2016 12:30 p.m. ET

Andrew Lynch

The Grizzlies were one of the NBA's most surprising teams through the first quarter of the 2016-17 season. Unfortunately, the good times in Memphis are in trouble after a scary injury to point guard Mike Conley.

Conley received an accidental knee to the back and crashed to the floor during Monday night's game against the Charlotte Hornets, leaving the game in the third quarter after reportedly experiencing a "paralyzing feeling."

On Tuesday, Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski first reported that Conley suffered a fracture in his vertebrae. There is no definite timetable for his return, although he is expected to miss roughly six weeks.

Conley was off to the best start of his career, averaging 19.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists to help lead the Grizzlies to a surprising 11-7 record. In addition to Conley, the Grizzlies are missing Chandler Parsons (knee) and Zach Randolph (personal reasons after the passing of his mother).

The good news for Memphis is that the schedule is relatively easy over the next week. After a Wednesday night visit to Toronto, the Grizzlies host the Magic and Lakers before games against the Pelicans and 76ers.

Come the second week of December, however, the script flips rather drastically, as Memphis will face the Blazers, Warriors, and Cavaliers (twice).

Conley signed a five-year, $153 million max contract this offseason that made him just the third player in NBA history to earn more than $30 million for a single season. The other two? Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.