Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will undergo season-ending surgery after suffering a subluxation of his right shoulder during a practice session Saturday, the team announced Monday night.
“Due to ongoing pain and instability, Morant underwent an MRI which revealed an underlying labrum tear,” the Grizzlies said in a statement on Monday.
Morant is expected to make a full recovery before the 2024-25 season.
The 24-year-old averaged 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists in nine games before the injury. Morant returned from a 25-game suspension for brandishing a weapon on multiple occasions and led the Grizzlies to a 3-0 record in his first three games of the season. He was named Western Conference Player of the Week for December 18-24.
Memphis sits 13th in the Western Conference standings at 13-23.
What Morant's absence means for the Grizzlies
It was one blow after another for this experienced, resilient Grizzlies team. Morant's return had revitalized the franchise, winning seven of the last 11 games since his debut on December 19th (6-3 with Morant). The All-Star guard found his feet seamlessly despite missing the first 25 games of the season due to a suspension. With Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis had all the tools to climb the Western Conference standings in the second half. But with Morant now sidelined for the remainder of the year – joining starter Steven Adams due to season-ending surgery – the Grizzlies are now essentially forced to face a sobering reality that portends next season.
The playoff or even play-in calculus was always going to be a pretty difficult equation for the Grizzlies, as they had to post a near-perfect score in their final 46 regular season games to even give them a chance at a puncher's dance. Even after Morant's return, questions remained, especially given Memphis' roster depth on the wings and up front. The returns of Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard, as encouraging as they may be for coach Taylor Jenkins, simply aren't enough to paper over the cracks of a Morant-less Grizzlies team. This is still a squad talented enough to catch the slippage of contenders, with Bane and Jackson once again stepping into elevated roles, but without the heart and soul of this organization, the Grizzlies are better off consolidating and up to look ahead to the 2024-25 season. — Kelly Iko, NBA staff writer
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