Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant sprained his left ankle in practice on Sunday, and the team is considering the two-time All-Star “week-to-week,†according to Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The Grizzlies are poised to open their 2025-26 NBA preseason schedule against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. Theyâ€ll tip off the regular season against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, Oct. 22 — just over two weeks from their centerpiece lead ball-handler suffering a “week-to-week†injury.
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Morantâ€s shelving is just the latest in a string of ongoing injury woes for the Grizzlies, who finished 48-34 and made the playoffs last season, but who experienced plenty of upheaval late in the year — headlined by the surprise firing of longtime head coach Taylor Jenkins just nine games before the postseason, reportedly owing in part to discord over the structure of Memphis†offense and Morantâ€s place in it.
All-Star big man Jaren Jackson Jr., recipient of a five-year, $240 million contract extension this summer, is rehabilitating after undergoing foot surgery to repair a turf toe injury. Second-year center Zach Edey is still working his way back from surgery on his left ankle. Ace reserve forward/center Brandon Clarke needed an arthroscopic procedure to address synovitis in his right knee, and isnâ€t expected to be re-evaluated until late October or early November.
The likelihood of entering the regular season without the bulk of your big-man rotation was daunting enough for the Grizzlies. The prospect of also starting off without Morant, who averaged a team-high 23.2 points and 7.3 assists per game last season, would be downright brutal — especially after the summertime decision to trade longtime No. 2 backcourt option Desmond Bane to the Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (a less creative on-ball player), Cole Anthony (since waived) and four first-round draft picks.
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In Morantâ€s absence, the Grizzlies will likely turn primary playmaking duties over to reserves Scotty Pippen Jr., whose two-way play represented a rare bright spot in Memphis†four-game sweep at the hands of the eventual-champion Thunder in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, and Ty Jerome, who inked a three-year, $28 million deal with the Grizzlies coming off his breakout campaign in Cleveland.
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