Grizzlies star Ja Morant to have season-ending shoulder surgery

Field Level Media|published: Mon 8th January, 22:14 2024

Jan 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts in the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. credits: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies said star guard Ja Morant will undergo surgery on his right shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.

Morant suffered a shoulder subluxation at practice Saturday, the Grizzlies said in a release. After Morant felt "ongoing soreness and instability" in the shoulder, an MRI revealed a labral tear.

Morant is "expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2024-25 season," per the team.

It will go down as a lost season for the two-time All-Star, who played just nine games in 2023-24. He began the season by serving a 25-game suspension for a repeated instance of "conduct detrimental to the league." Morant had posed with a gun during a livestreamed video for the second time in a short span.

When Morant returned to game action Dec. 19, he made his season debut count. He tallied 34 points, eight assists and six rebounds and made the game-winning shot for Memphis to beat New Orleans at the buzzer.

Morant sat out Sunday's game at the Phoenix Suns. The Grizzlies went 6-3 with Morant in the lineup this season and are 7-20 without him.

In five NBA seasons, the former No. 2 overall pick has career averages of 22.5 points, 7.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.

—Field Level Media