When the Memphis Grizzlies take the court to host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, star guard Ja Morant won’t be out on the floor with his teammates. Morant has been officially ruled out of the game due to a Grade 1 right calf strain that he suffered in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers last week.
Ja Morant to miss game vs. Kings due to groin strain
Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, Morant is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks with the injury, and the game against Sacramento is just the second of several that he’s likely to miss.
It’s been a rough start to the season in Memphis, and this latest injury to Morant is just the latest setback. The Grizzlies have won just four of their first 15 games and as a result they’re already well outside of the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
Personally, Morant has been frustrated both on and off the court. He's averaging career-lows in minutes per game (28.8), field goal percentage (.359) and three-point percentage (.167) while simultaneously averaging career-highs in turnovers (3.8) and personal fouls (2.3) per game.
The star guard was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team earlier this month and upon his return, he made it clear that he isn't playing with his usual joy or passion this season. As a result, he's been frequently mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks.
There’s been no indication that the Grizzlies are looking to trade Morant at this point in time, but the fact that it’s even being discussed demonstrates how dire things have become in Memphis. A couple years ago Morant was the clear face of the franchise and one of the upcoming faces of the NBA, now he’s viewed more as an enigma with an uncertain future.
Maybe when Morant returns to the court he can find the spark and joy he used to play with. Otherwise, it’s going to be a very long season in Memphis.