Image Credit: © Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ja Morant Injury Update: How Long will Ja Morant be Out For? Will Memphis Grizzlies Star Miss Regular Season Opener?

Image Credit: © Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Memphis Grizzlies received a pre-season blow when their star guard Ja Morant injured his ankle. According to the Grizzlies’ spokesperson, Morant sprained his ankle in practice on Sunday, October 5, ahead of the NBA preseason opener on Monday against the Detroit Pistons. It comes as another setback for the star guard who has had injuries and legal troubles halting his progress over the seasons.

Morant, whose 2024-25 season came to an end with a hip injury in the opening round of the playoffs, has missed at least 15 games every season since joining the league due to injury or suspension. According to the Grizzlies, Morant is considered week-to-week due to his injury. The 26-year-old joins a lengthy list of key Grizzlies players who have been injured and could miss the starting of the regular season.

Center Zach Edey is expected to return to action in mid-to-late November as he recovers from an ankle surgery. Apart from him, power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. also underwent a surgery to repair a turf toe injury in July. His availability for the Grizzlies’ season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 22 remains uncertain.

In addition, Brandon Clarke also had to undergo knee surgery after his recovery from a sprained PCL. This doesn’t come as a good sign for the Memphis Grizzlies, who were hoping to begin the year on a better note after having finished the last season with a 48-34 record.

Will Ja Morant Miss 2025-26 Regular Season Opener?

As stated, Morant’s status is now considered week-to-week and there is no official announcement of whether he will be out for the regular season opener or not. However, considering that the Grizzlies are set to begin their season in a little over two weeks, there might be a chance that he misses it.

The team finds itself in an unstable situation right now as they fired their head coach Taylor Jenkis with about a week remaining in the regular season. In addition, they also traded Desmond Bane, once considered a cornerstone of the team, in the offseason. Coming back to Morant, the Murray State alum played in just 59 games in the last two seasons combined. He played just nine games in the 2023-24 campaign because of a shoulder injury as well as a 25-game suspension.

Last season, he averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists, shooting 45.5% from the field.

Ja Morant

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.