During the Memphis Grizzlies’ 124-100 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, a distressing scene occurred as rookie standout Jaylen Wells was taken off the court on a stretcher. The incident was especially alarming considering Wells is only in his first NBA season after being selected as the 39th overall pick in the 2024 Draft.
The injury occurred during a second-quarter fast break when Wells attempted a two-handed dunk. As he soared through the air, Hornets guard KJ Simpson collided with him mid-flight and resulted in a dangerous fall.
Jaylen Wells falls hard on his front of his head after the And-One dunk. The medical staff rush for his help and then evacuate him.
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 9, 2025
Upon referee review, the foul by KJ Simpson was upgraded to a flagrant penalty 2 and he was ejected from the game.
Some Hornets players were… pic.twitter.com/egfcqj1cQC
Wells came crashing down face-first. Though the dunk counted, giving Memphis a 62-44 advantage with 1:10 left in the half, the celebration quickly turned into concern. Medical staff rushed to Wells’ side as the game was paused for several minutes.
Players from both teams dropped to their knees in prayer. Though the rookie was conscious and able to move all his limbs, it was later revealed that he suffered a broken right wrist. NBA insider Shams Charania confirmed the diagnosis and stated that Wells would continue to receive medical treatment. Following a review, officials upgraded the foul committed by Simpson to a flagrant-2.
Support And Prayer For Jaylen Wells Continues To Pour In
The injury rattled both the players and the fans, but the support for Jaylen Wells was immediate. Fans took to social media to express their well-wishes for the young star’s recovery.
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One fan wrote, “Prayers for this young man.”
Prayers for this young man 🙏🏾
— FantasyMagic (@jamesabaileyjr) April 9, 2025
Another chimed in with, “Man, I truly hope this young man will be OK after this… not a good sight to see at all.”
Man I truly hope this young man will be OK after this.. not a good site to see at all
— 🎤Digital Media Advocate & Personality/Producer (@TheEMillioEgBar) April 9, 2025
“Have a speedy recovery,” another fan prayed for Wells.
Have a speedy recovery 👏
— JayTesla (@Jay_Tesla1) April 9, 2025
“Prayers up, speedy recovery,” one fan echoed.
Prayers up, speedy recovery
— 703_Glenn (@703Glenn) April 9, 2025
“Praying right now for this fine young man. Prayers!!!” another comment read.
Praying right now for this fine young man. Prayers!!!
— Gigi (@sjle_s) April 9, 2025
Before the injury, Wells had recorded three points on 1-for-4 shooting, five rebounds, and one assist in 11 minutes. So far this season, the rookie has played 78 games, starting in 73 of them, and is averaging 10.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
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