Ja Morant’s Season Ends as Grizzlies Star Faces Injury Shutdown
Memphis announced Tuesday that Ja Morant will not return this season. The 26-year-old guard has been sidelined since Jan. 21.
Injury details and treatment plan
Morant suffered a UCL sprain in his left elbow. He has been undergoing rehabilitation since the injury.
After a recent consultation, team doctors recommended a platelet-rich plasma injection. The Grizzlies will offload the elbow following the procedure.
Timeline and recovery outlook
The team confirmed Morant will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season. He is expected to be fully recovered for the 2026-27 campaign.
Filmogaz.com sources said the decision followed lingering pain despite rehab. The club prioritized long-term healing over a late-season return.
Season impact and standings
Memphis holds a 24-47 record and sits 11th in the Western Conference. Eleven games remain on their schedule.
The team’s playoff chances are now highly unlikely. Missing Morant further dims any play-in hopes.
Morant’s 2025-26 performance
This season Morant averaged 19.5 points per game. That mark is his lowest since his second NBA season.
He also posted 3.3 rebounds and a career-tying 8.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage was 41 percent.
Morant appeared in 20 games this year. He scored a season-high 40 points on Dec. 30, 2025, against Philadelphia.
Career context
The Grizzlies drafted Morant second overall in 2019 from Murray State. He won Rookie of the Year and became a two-time All-Star.
Since entering the league, he helped Memphis reach the playoffs four times. He played 79 games across the prior three seasons.
Other roster injuries
The team also announced Brandon Clarke will miss the rest of the season. Clarke has a right calf strain and needs more healing before high-intensity work.
Clarke will continue rehabilitation and is expected to recover fully for 2026-27.
Zach Edey update
Center Zach Edey underwent a procedure for lingering left elbow discomfort. The club expects him to be ready next season as well.
What this means going forward
With key players sidelined, Memphis will evaluate options at the trade deadline. The focus is now on player recovery and next season.
Fans and analysts will track Morant’s rehab closely. The phrase Ja Morant’s season ends and the Grizzlies star injury shutdown will feature in evaluations.