Memphis Forward Zach Randolph Tears MCL

By Dave Martin
Dave Martin
Dave Martin
Dave Martin is a New-York based writer as well as editor. He is the sports editor for the Epoch Times and is a consultant to private writers.
January 4, 2012Updated: October 1, 2015
Oklahoma City Thunder v Memphis Grizzlies - Game Six
Grizzlies' leading scorer Zach Randolph has torn his MCL. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph has torn his right medial collateral ligament and is expected to miss 6–8 weeks, according to a report on the team’s website.

The injury came in a 104–64 blowout loss to Chicago on New Year’s Day.

Randolph is coming off perhaps his best season as a pro, leading the team in scoring (20.1 points per game) and rebounding (12.2), on the way to an upset of top-seeded San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs. For his efforts, Randolph was selected to the All-NBA Third Team.

The injury is a big blow to Memphis, whose young team seems ready to make the leap to the upper-echelon of a western conference that’s up for grabs this season with the expected regression of Dallas, San Antonio, and the Lakers.