Injury Update on Ja Morant
In a disappointing turn of events for the Memphis Grizzlies, star guard Ja Morant is set to miss a minimum of two weeks due to a Grade 1 strain in his right calf. This injury occurred during the first quarter of the team’s recent defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Morant managed to contribute 7 points in just six minutes of play before exiting the game with 6:01 left in the opening period.
Recent Struggles for the Grizzlies
This latest physical setback follows Morant’s absence from the previous game against the Boston Celtics, which he missed due to soreness in his right ankle. Currently, the Grizzlies are struggling, having lost four consecutive games and eight of their last nine. The team is gearing up for a critical matchup against the San Antonio Spurs set for Tuesday at the Frost Bank Center.
Morant’s Challenging Season
The 26-year-old Morant, a two-time NBA All-Star, is having a particularly challenging season, with his performance metrics at career lows in several categories, including:
- Minutes played: 28.8
- Field goal percentage: 35.9%
- Three-point percentage: 16.7%
- Rebounds: 3.5
- Turnovers: 3.8 per game
Off-Court Issues
Earlier in the season, Morant faced suspension due to conduct that was deemed detrimental to the team following an incident after an October 31 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He made his return to the court on November 3 against the Detroit Pistons. Despite being in the third year of a substantial five-year, $197.2 million contract initiated in 2022, Morant’s time on the floor has been significantly affected by injuries and two suspensions tied to gun-related incidents, resulting in him participating in only 59 games over the past two seasons.
