Injuries can slow down a player’s momentum to greatness. Or worse, derail them from the same path. For now, it’s hard to guess what Scotty Pippen Jr.’s fate would be like. The Memphis Grizzlies star will now sit out the rest of the 2025-26 season. He will undergo a sesamoidectomy to address ongoing discomfort in his right big toe. Following the heartbreaking news on Thursday, the Grizzlies star’s father, the legendary Scottie Pippen, dropped an emotional tweet.

“Everything you learned late, teach your children early.”

A simple, yet impactful eight-word message. Pippen Sr. is clearly standing by his son in this tough phase. Now, to understand why the 60-year-old wrote this, we’ll have to go back to his NBA era.

Drafted in 1987, the Chicago Bulls legend spent 17 seasons chasing greatness and winning six championships with multiple All-NBA honors.

Yet experience taught him a harsh truth over time. Injuries eventually forced perspective. Pippen later realized that careful conditioning, proper rest, and constant medical attention matter as much as talent. Those lessons arrived slowly during his long career.

A 2001 elbow surgery, chronic back pain, and recurring foot issues repeatedly slowed him down. During the 1997-1998 Bulls season, a delayed surgery on his injured left foot until the start of the season limited Scottie Pippen to 44 games. Meanwhile, his playoff workload remained brutal at 37.5 minutes per game. The same injury, though, aggravated early in Game 6 against the Utah Jazz, and forced him to head to the bench in noticeable pain. And while he played through, it was the most grueling game of his career.

Therefore, Pippen now wants young players to learn earlier than he did. The message is simple but powerful: Build smart routines early.

Scottie Pippen’s son has yet to shine for the Memphis Grizzlies

On March 13, 2026, Memphis confirmed that guard Scotty Pippen Jr. will undergo a sesamoidectomy on his right big toe after persistent pain. Doctors will remove a pea-sized sesamoid bone lodged in the tendon to relieve fractures or long-term inflammation when other treatments fail.

Pippen Jr. must wear a surgical boot for weeks. Earlier, in October last year, he underwent the same procedure on his left foot and missed more than 15 weeks before returning on February 6.

Recovery now presents another long climb. Doctors expect a full recovery, yet rehabilitation typically requires 8 to 12 weeks before normal activity. For the first eight weeks, high-impact exercises stay off limits. Complete healing can stretch to six months. Meanwhile, the first two weeks demand strict non-weight-bearing elevation.

Therefore, the Grizzlies lose another vital spark to injuries. While Ja Morant managed a lingering left elbow UCL sprain, Scottie Pippen’s son stepped up with 11.4 points, 4.7 assists, and a team-leading 1.9 steals per game. Meanwhile, the injury list keeps growing.

Ja Morant awaits reevaluation, Zach Edey remains out for the season with an ankle injury, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses the year after finger surgery, Brandon Clarke battles a calf strain, and Taj Gibson, GG Jackson, Walter Clayton Jr., Santi Aldama, and Jaylen Wells join the crowded medical report.