The Memphis Grizzlies have announced that Ja Morant suffered an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder during their 132-124 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The team has not provided a specific timeline for his return. However, they confirmed that Morant will be sidelined for Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder currently sit atop the Western Conference standings. Memphis is second at 22-10, four games behind Oklahoma City.
Concerns About Recurring Shoulder Injuries
Morant’s Importance to the Team
Losing a star like Morant is obviously a major setback for the Grizzlies. This season, he has averaged 21.2 points per game and 7.9 assists, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Morant holds the 11th-highest usage rate in the league among players who have played at least 10 games this season. His ability to attack the paint and operate effectively in the pick-and-roll with Zach Edey and Jaren Jackson Jr. will be sorely missed.
A Challenging Schedule Ahead
Although the Grizzlies have not announced a specific timetable for Morant’s recovery, it is likely that he will be out for at least a few weeks. This comes at a challenging time, as Memphis faces a tough stretch of games. Over the next 11 games, the Memphis Grizzlies face a challenging schedule. They will take on the Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks. Additionally, they will play the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves twice each, as well as the San Antonio Spurs two times. Out of these opponents, only one has a losing record. This makes it a particularly difficult stretch for the team to navigate without their star guard.
Impact on Award Eligibility For Morant
When the Grizzlies face the Thunder, it will mark Morant’s 13th missed game of the season. Memphis is 8-4 this season when Morant is out of the lineup. This puts his eligibility for All-NBA honors or other major awards in jeopardy. He now risks falling below the NBA’s 65-game minimum requirement for such accolades with just five more missed games. The NBA introduced the 65-game eligibility rule at the start of the 2023-24 season.
The NBA implemented this rule to discourage teams from resting players for load management. However, one downside of the rule is that it also penalizes players who miss games due to injuries. Unfortunately for Morant, this injury could put his eligibility for these honors in serious doubt.
Morant appeared in just nine games last season due to suspension and injury.
