Grizzlies: Everything we know about Ja Morant’s injury right now
The Memphis Grizzlies just played their first game after an injury to their star point guard in Ja Morant. For what it’s worth, Memphis swept the floor with the Sacramento Kings, winning the contest by a 27-point margin.
The Grizzlies had their best offensive performances in a few weeks and their best defensive performance in nearly a month and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Why, you ask?
Grizz head coach Taylor Jenkins told the media before Sunday’s game that Ja Morant would be out for “at least a couple weeks.” It’s the latest update we’ve received in relation to Morant’s injury and as vague as you can expect from this organization.
What does Ja Morant’s injury mean for the Memphis Grizzlies over the next few weeks?
For starters, most Grizzlies fans will be breathing a sigh of relief. While nobody can feel excited about their star player being injured and missing at least a couple of weeks of action, it’s a heck of a lot better than some sort of tear.
Jenkins clarified that too — there are no tears or any ligament damage in Morant’s injured knee. Just a simple sprain. Jenkins elaborated by saying “we expect a full recovery, and this is nothing long term that we’re worried about.”
On the season, Ja Morant has quickly emerged as an NBA All-Star-caliber player, averaging a career-high 24.1 points on the season. Morant is also averaging a new career-high in steals, recording 1.6 per game to this point in 2021.
With the loss of the team’s star point guard, offense will be much more difficult to come by in the upcoming couple of weeks. You wouldn’t think so by looking at the Grizzlies’ most recent result, where they scored 128 points against the Kings. I promise you — that will change.
Memphis has already been scrambling to put together the 17.1 PPG that they lost with the absence of Jonas Valanciunas. Steven Adams is only making up 6.7 of those points. With Morant out, the Grizzlies lose 24.1 more points.
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The Grizzlies shouldn’t suffer too much defensively, but things could get tricky when it comes to putting the ball in the bucket. Players that will have to step up include Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones, and Jaren Jackson Jr.