Grizzlies' Marcus Smart: Unlikely to return this season

Smart (finger) is without an official timeline for a return but is likely to miss the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.

Smart ruptured the proximal interphalangeal joint central slip on his right hand and hasn't played since Jan. 9. At the time he suffered the injury, the Grizzlies had optimism that Smart would suit up again this season, but with Memphis firmly out of playoff contention, the team won't rush Smart back to game action. Smart has two years left on his contract and will look to make a better impression in Year 2 with Memphis after appearing in just 20 games in 2023-24. He averaged 14.5 points, 4.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 three-pointers and 2.1 steals in 30.3 minutes per game.