After missing 25 games due to a suspension, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.
The two-time All-Star guard and former Rookie of the Year played just nine games for Memphis in 2023-24. He hit a wild game-winner during his first game back with the Grizzlies and was averaging 25.1 points per game before his injury.
Shortly after the team announced that Morant would require surgery for a torn labrum in his right shoulder, he reacted on Instagram with a devastating post.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C13atxDt2n_/?hl=en&img_index=1
Morant said that he was “tired” of having to come back soon, which makes sense considering the on-again and off-again nature of his season.
According to Jeff Stotts of InStreetClothes.com, while the surgery has a very high success rate, players typically miss around five months with this injury.
That makes it hard for both Morant and the Grizzlies, who are also without notable players including Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke due to season-ending injuries as well, to find a rhythm.
Memphis was 6-3 (.666) during games Morant played this season and 7-20 (.259) in games he did not. The Grizzlies had a positive point differential in minutes Morant played, per PBPStats, but were outscored by 7.01 points per 100 possessions in minutes he did not.
Morant is expected to make a full recovery and is expected back on the court next season.
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