After sitting out games on Saturday and Monday due to right shoulder soreness, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant returned to action on Wednesday vs. the Thunder. However, speaking to reporters after the game, Morant suggested that he probably should have taken more time off to recover from the injury.
“Terrible,” Morant said when asked how he felt being back out on the court (Twitter video link via Matt Infield of Action News 5). “I should’ve been out, but I was out there. Regardless of out, in — there’s going to be something said.”
Morant has repeatedly missed time due to right shoulder issues this season after having that shoulder surgically repaired in January 2024. When one reporter began to point out that this isn’t the first time this season Morant has acknowledged playing through pain, the Grizzlies guard cut him off and said, “I’ve played like this all season honestly, but is what it is.”
Morant has appeared in 38 games this season for Memphis, averaging 20.9 points per game on .431/.284/.839 shooting. Those numbers are down from the ones he was putting up prior to tearing his labrum last season.
That dip in production is partly by design — Morant’s 29.4 minutes per game represents the fewest he has ever averaged, and his 31.4% usage rate has declined from where it was in 2021/22 and ’22/23. He has spoken about cutting back on high-flying dunk attempts and prioritizing his health over making highlight-reel plays.
Still, Morant has missed 24 games and hasn’t looked quite right even when he’s played, raising questions about how his health and availability will affect the Grizzlies’ ceiling in this year’s postseason, notes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Asked after Wednesday’s loss if he expects to have to deal with the shoulder injury for the rest of the season, Morant simply replied, “I don’t know.”
Between always being hurt and the off the court issues. The Grizzlies should do everything in their power to trade him in the offseason.
The fanbase would revolt.
Dude is NOT the guy to build a franchise around. They should have traded him earlier on when he was a mega stud… there must have been signs about his liking that street tough culture, strapped and ready to draw… not being enough about the basketball and being a professional which has to come before everything else in his position. Can’t trust that guy to lead the way. It’s a shame, he’s spectacular.
Unless he injured his shoulder with a gun I’m not sure what one has to do with the other
Even if Ja never has another off-court issue, his injury profile indicates he’s not a franchise player.
Memphis is a budget-constrained franchise, so they’re less inclined to roll the dice next summer on a max deal for Ja. IMO, they will try to move him this summer to a wealthier team more able to manage the high injury risk.
Shoulder injuries/surgeries are often problematic. Grizzlies deciding to trade him would be hated by the fans, but is likely best for the team’s future.