Ja Morant suffered a shoulder subluxation, or dislocation, at Memphis Grizzlies practice in January 2024. The two-time All-Star had to get season-ending surgery as a result, and the ailment still bothers him.
Morant missed 10 games after injuring himself while attempting a dunk during the Grizzlies' 131-114 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 6. The 25-year-old then said that he won't dunk for the rest of his career to avoid further risk.
Morant has missed a total of 24 contests this season, and he could be out for Saturday night's bout with the Miami Heat.
The Murray State alum is listed as "questionable" with shoulder soreness, via Grizzlies PR.
Questionable is better than doubtful, but it could be a game-time decision depending on how Morant feels during warmups.
Status Report: @memgrizz vs @MiamiHEAT, March 15: pic.twitter.com/DFUPo0YzTY
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) March 15, 2025
The former Most Improved Player is averaging 22.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting with 7.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 30 minutes per game this season. He's coming off a 44-point (17-22 FG, 1-4 3 PT), eight-rebound, seven-assist, and one-steal performance in Memphis' 133-124 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. His 44 points were a season high.
The Grizzlies will be without Santi Aldama (calf), Yuki Kawamura (two-way transfer), and Zyon Pullin (patellar tendon), while Vince Williams Jr. (ankle) is doubtful. Aldama averages 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, while Williams posts 7.1 and 3.6.
Memphis (42-25) is tied with the Houston Rockets for the third seed in the Western Conference and is one game behind the Denver Nuggets (43-24) for second.
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This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 2:48 PM.