Grizzlies hit with a devastating injury update for star Ja Morant

His loss should end any hope of a late-season playoff push for the Grizzlies. Memphis began the year 6-19 without Morant but responded with four consecutive wins upon his return. In nine games with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, Memphis was 6-3.

Morant averaged 25.1 points and 8.1 assists per game. He immediately made an impact in his first game back, scoring a season-high 34 points, including the winning basket as time expired, against the Pelicans in a 115-113 win.

The Grizzlies were already limited due to injuries which forced center Steven Adams and power forward Brandon Clarke to miss the entire season. 

Morant's injury, unfortunately, fits the theme of Memphis' season, one defined more by player absences than anything else. 

Yet while this season is lost, Memphis (13-23, 13th in the Western Conference) shouldn't be down for long. With a healthy Morant, Clarke and Adams — to go along with Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart — the Grizzlies should be back in the postseason next year. 

Their 2024 draft pick probably became much more valuable with Morant's injury, which they can use to draft an impact rookie or use in a trade to improve the roster around their young core.

That's little solace to the Grizzlies or their fans in the present, who have a long, miserable rest of the 2023-24 season to endure before they see brighter days.