Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is expected to be cleared from a shoulder injury he underwent surgery for in January within the next two weeks, per the Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Damichael Cole.
Morant played just nine games during the 2023-24 season, missing the first 25 games due to a suspension and suffering a labral tear shortly after returning to the court.
In that nine-game stretch, Morant averaged 25.1 points, 8.1 assists and 5.6 rebounds and the Grizzlies were 6-3.
According to Cole, Morant hosted a youth basketball camp in Memphis on Saturday, where he interacted with kids and participated in basketball activities—a positive sign as the young star looks to make his way back to the court.
Though he has shined when on the court, the early years of Morant’s career have been derailed by injuries and a handful of suspensions. He has yet to play more than 70 games in a season and has not played more than 65 games since his rookie year in 2019-20.
A healthy Morant paired with the defensive duo of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart could lead to a Grizzlies team capable of competing in the Western Conference, but fans have yet to see that group on full display yet.
Memphis was arguably the most injury-riddled team during the course of the 2023-24 season, with Morant, Jackson and Smart all missing time—not to mention many other role players suffering injuries throughout the year.
Since the Grizzlies drafted Morant in 2019, they have reached the playoffs three times and made it to the second round in 2022, showing signs of growth in the years following the “Grit and Grind” era.
Now, Memphis is hoping to get a full season of Morant and compete in the playoffs once again.
