It was supposed to be just another regular Tuesday night game. The kind you scroll past while checking scores on your phone. Grizzlies vs Hornets, young cores clashing, Ja Morant doing Ja things. But all it took was one horrifying fall for everything to shift from basketball to heartbreak in an instant.
And when it happened… silence. Complete silence.
Jaylen Wells had a clear path to the rim. The kind of play that ends in a highlight dunk and a sideline celebration. But just as he took off, Hornets rookie KJ Simpson came in from behind, trying to contest the shot. What followed wasn’t just a foul—it was an NBA nightmare.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Midair contact sent Wells spiraling. He crashed hard—face first and with nothing breaking his fall. Within seconds, the Spectrum Center was frozen. Fans stood still. Teammates rushed in. And Simpson? He dropped everything to run straight toward Wells, clearly rattled.
It wasn’t long before the refs reviewed the play and upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2. “Unnecessary and excessive contact.” That’s NBA code for get out. Simpson was ejected on the spot. But truthfully, no one was focused on the punishment. All eyes were locked on Wells—still down, not moving.
And this isn’t some fringe bench guy we’re talking about. Jaylen Wells is the feel-good story of the Grizzlies’ season. Picked 39th overall, he wasn’t supposed to be part of the rotation this early. But night after night, he’s stepped up. He defends, he scores, he does the little things that coaches love and teammates trust.
That’s what made this moment hit harder.
After several minutes on the floor, Wells was stretchered off with a neck brace and medics by his side. But just before leaving the court, he raised one hand—shaky, but reassuring. A quiet sign of life that somehow said everything.
NBA fans react: Emotions for Jaylen Wells flood the timeline
As expected, the reactions came pouring in from all corners of the NBA community. Concern, anger, sympathy—all of it. And the first wave? Just pure prayers.
“Never like to see an athlete/anyone get injured, hope he is ok. Prayers.” Inside the Spectrum Center, fans stood in eerie silence. Some bowed their heads, others clapped softly as Wells was stretchered away. Teammates huddled midcourt, kneeling together in solidarity. Even Hornets players looked visibly shaken. It was no longer a game—it was a shared moment of humanity.
“Sending thoughts and prayers to Jaylen Wells for a speedy recovery. Hoping it’s nothing serious and he’s back on the court soon.”Sadly, the news that followed wasn’t what anyone wanted to hear. The Grizzlies later confirmed that Wells had suffered a broken right wrist. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these types of injuries usually require 4 to 6 weeks of immobilization in a cast, followed by 6 to 12 weeks of physical therapy.
In other words? A potential 3 to 6-month recovery window, depending on how his body responds and whether surgery is needed. It’s a tough blow, but not unheard of in the league. Just last season, Naz Reid was out six weeks with a similar injury, and Jalen Brunson dealt with a fractured hand in the playoffs that required two months of rehab.
The road back won’t be easy—but it’s one that others have walked before.
via Imago Nov 20, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Of course, some fans didn’t hold back their frustration about how the injury even happened. “What the fuck are you doing contesting behind a player????” They’ve got a point. According to NBA Rule No. 12, contact from behind that affects a player’s rhythm or balance is automatically a personal foul. And when that contact is enough to cause a dangerous fall? It’s flagged as excessive. The league got it right calling the Flagrant 2. But the question remains—why make that play at all?
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Still, not everyone was ready to label Simpson a villain. “You can tell he didn’t mean to do that on purpose. You can see the regret and remorse. Don’t dog him even if it was a dirty play.”
And if you know Simpson’s background, this checks out. He’s not some hothead with a history of reckless behavior. In fact, before this, he had zero flagrant fouls on record. His reaction—rushing to Wells, visibly distraught—was the opposite of cold-blooded. It felt like a rookie mistake, not a malicious act.
The Grizzlies eventually pulled away and grabbed the win, riding big nights from Ja and Zach Edey. But nobody really cared about the box score tonight. Not in the locker room. Not on the court. And definitely not on social media.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Because the only thing that mattered was whether Jaylen Wells was okay.
And now, the only thing that matters moving forward—is how fast, how strong, and how soon he can make his return.
Prayers Up for Jaylen Wells as Scary Visuals Emerge Following Horrible Face First Crash Against Hornets
