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Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard Jaylen Wells was removed from the court on a stretcher Tuesday night after a frightening collision with Charlotte’s K.J. Simpson left him with an apparent head injury. The incident occurred when Wells, completing a fastbreak dunk on an outlet pass from Ja Morant, was undercut by Simpson, causing Wells to lose balance and slam his head on the court.
Medical staff attended to Wells for approximately eight minutes before immobilizing his head and transferring him to a stretcher. The game was delayed for 23 minutes total, including warmup time for both teams following the incident.Â
Wells’ agent, Aman Dhesi, told ESPN’s Shams Charania that Wells is “awake, alert and moving his extremities.” Wells also sustained a broken wrist.
Officials reviewed the play and assessed Simpson with a flagrant 2 foul for unnecessary contact, resulting in an automatic ejection. Simpson showed immediate concern for Wells after the collision and appeared visibly distressed as medical personnel tended to the injured player in a silent arena.
Wells, selected in the second round of the 2024 draft from Washington State, had started 74 of 79 games for Memphis this season, averaging 10.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
