The Memphis Grizzlies are utilizing the NBA Hardship Exception as they struggle to maintain a healthy roster at the start of the 2025-26 season. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Grizzlies are signing free agent center Charles Bassey to a 10-day hardship contract.
The team currently has four players sidelined for extended periods: Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Brandon Clarke, and Zach Edey. “Grizzlies currently have Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey sidelined for extended periods, clearing the way for a 10-day hardship signing,” Charania reported on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite these injuries, Memphis has managed a solid 2-1 start to the season. The Grizzlies opened with a thrilling 128-122 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. However, they suffered a heavy 146-114 loss to the Miami Heat in their second game before bouncing back with a commanding 128-103 victory against the Indiana Pacers.
While the team has seen injuries impact some role players, their All-Stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. have remained healthy and fully available. The star duo has been key to the Grizzlies’ early success. Morant is averaging 22 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists over the first three games, while Jackson Jr. is contributing 18 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per contest.
Thanks to the NBA Hardship Exception, Memphis can maintain competitiveness in the tough Western Conference. The exception allows the team to add another player to the roster temporarily, providing valuable reinforcements as their injured players recover.
### What is the NBA Hardship Exception?
The NBA Hardship Exception is different from other league exceptions like the minimum-salary, mid-level, and bi-annual exceptions, which are designed to give teams spending flexibility each season. Unlike those exceptions, the hardship exception is not related to the salary cap but allows teams to temporarily expand their roster due to significant injury issues.
To qualify for the hardship exception, a team must meet three criteria:
1. Four players must be unavailable due to injury or illness.
2. Those four players must have missed at least three consecutive games.
3. All four players are expected to remain sidelined for at least two more weeks.
The Grizzlies meet all of these conditions, enabling them to take advantage of the hardship exemption early in the season.
As Memphis navigates the challenging early weeks of the 2025-26 campaign, the NBA Hardship Exception will be a crucial tool in helping the team stay competitive while recovering from injuries.
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