When Jaylen Wells played his first NBA game back in Sacramento, his parents were there to cheer him on.
Jaylen Wells, the Memphis Grizzlies rookie, suffered a frightening injury during a game against the Charlotte Hornets on April 8, 2025.
While attempting a dunk, he was undercut by Hornets guard KJ Simpson. This caused Wells to lose his balance and land hard on his head and side near the baseline.
KJ Simpson Jr grabbed Jaylen Well’s legs midair undercutting him. Wells landed on his head and neck.
— Cole 𝕏 (@CREAMYCOLE_) April 9, 2025
Jaylen Wells is being stretchered off. There was blood, not sure from where. pic.twitter.com/pQ6aFGIsPt
Wells lay motionless on the court for several minutes before being stretchered off with his head stabilized.
As a result of this, the game was delayed for 23 minutes as medical personnel attended to him.
Fortunately, updates from his father confirmed that Wells is awake, alert, and moving his extremities, saying:
Jaylen is awake and alert. Wanted 2 know the score! Swollen wrist. Face, jaw and back pain. About to get X-ray and CT.
However, he sustained a broken wrist and is experiencing pain in his face, jaw, and back. He is undergoing further medical evaluations.
Despite the injury, Wells even posted a message on social media to support his team.
Jaylen’s Parents Defy Their Busy Schedules To Cheer Him On In The Game!
Jaylen was born on August 2, 2003, in Sacramento, California, to parents Fred and Laketia Hayward Wells.
Fred is an assistant ER manager at Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento, California.
On the other hand, his mother, Lakeitha, has primarily focused on being a homemaker and raising Jaylen and his siblings.
She previously worked at Amazon and held other jobs before dedicating herself to family responsibilities.
Despite their demanding schedules, his parents manage to find time to attend his games.
Their presence at his games highlights their dedication and support to Jaylen and his career.
During his childhood, Fred and Lakeitha introduced Jaylen to various sports to see which one resonated with him.
Basketball ultimately became his passion, and Fred often guided him during practice sessions.
Jaylen Wells has publicly expressed his gratitude and admiration for his parents on several occasions.
He credited them for their support and sacrifices, saying:
My dad and mom. They both sacrificed a lot of their time, money, their own personal dreams… for mine. So, First thing that motivates me is my parents. Seeing what they went through to help my dream
Regarding his recent injury, his parents are deeply concerned about the situation.
They have been a pillar of support during his recovery and have reassured fans about his health condition.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Jaylen earned First-team All-CCAA honors in 2023.
- He was also named CCAA Player of the Year in the same year.
- He has three siblings: Tiffany, DeAndre, and AJ Wells.
