Morant (knee) and the Grizzlies agreed to sign a five-year, $193 million contract extension Thursday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Morant has been sensational since getting drafted by the Grizzlies in 2019. The point guard took a massive jump into his third year, as he improved his scoring by over eight points per game. Morant managed to average 27.4 points, 6.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds last season. Expect the NBA All-Star starter to continue to improve his game as soon he heals from the right knee injury he suffered in the postseason.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Avoids surgery
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Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman said Friday that Morant's knee injury won't require surgery, and the All-Star point guard is expected to be 100 percent before the start of training camp, Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian reports.
Morant was diagnosed with a bone bruise on his left knee after leaving in the second half of Game 3 against the Warriors. He was sidelined for the remainder of the series due to the issue, but the positive news is that it won't impact his status for the 2022-23 campaign. Morant was named the Most Improved Player during the 2021-22 season after posting 27.4 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 33.1 minutes.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Likely out for rest of postseason
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Morant (knee) has been diagnosed with a bone bruise on his right knee and is considered doubtful to return for the remainder of the playoffs, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
After a few days of uncertainty, the Grizzlies have finally revealed that Morant is dealing with a bone bruise on his knee, which the team claims stemmed from Jordan Poole's swipe during the second half of Game 3. Memphis hasn't offered much in the way of a timetable, but based on Charania's report, it appears as though Morant is looking at a multi-week recovery process. Memphis' season could end as soon as Wednesday night if Golden State can win Game 5. Expect Tyus Jones to be the top candidate to make another start at point guard in Morant's place.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Officially out
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Morant (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's Game 4 against Golden State, Fred Katz of The Athletic reports.
Morant was trending in this direction all day after failing to take part in shootaround, and the team has made it official that he won't go Monday evening. Look for Tyus Jones to draw the start in Morant's absence.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Doesn't participate in shootaround
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Morant (knee) didn't participate in the Grizzlies' shootaround ahead of Monday's Game 4 against the Warriors, Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian reports.
Morant was spotted in slippers and sweats as his teammates went through shootaround, suggesting the All-Star point guard won't be available. This isn't surprising given he's listed as doubtful, but there was optimism that he'd at least try to give it a go pregame. Regardless, in his likely absence, Tyus Jones would likely draw the start while De'Anthony Melton and John Konchar could see additional run off the bench.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Officially doubtful for Game 4
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Morant (knee) is doubtful for Monday's Game 4 against the Warriors.
Coach Taylor Jenkins indicated Sunday that Morant is unlikely to play in Game 4 after sustaining a knee injury during Saturday's Game 3 matchup, so his doubtful designation isn't surprising. If Morant is ultimately held out, Tyus Jones would likely draw the start with De'Anthony Melton and John Konchar also seeing additional run.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Unlikely to play in Game 4
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Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said Sunday that Morant (knee) is unlikely to play in Monday's Game 4 against the Warriors, Kendra Andrews of ESPN.com reports.
Morant suffered the injury after being trapped at half court by Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 3. The All-Star point guard averaged 38.3 points, 8.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals through the first three games of the series, so his likely absence would be a massive loss for Memphis. If he's unable to suit up Monday, Tyus Jones figures to draw the start while De'Anthony Melton and John Konchar could both see increased opportunities off the bench.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Injures knee during Saturday's loss
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Morant left Saturday's 142-112 Game 3 loss to the Warriors due to a right knee injury, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com reports.
Morant was trapped at half court by Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. A foul was called on Wiggins during the play, so Morant ventured to the free-throw line, but after his first attempt, the dynamic point guard was visibly in pain and trying to stretch out his right leg. He was taken out of the game and displayed vehement displeasure before limping to the locker room. Per Youngmisuk, the team has not specified Morant's injury, saying only that he was being further evaluated. He's averaging 38.3 points, 8.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals through the first three games of the series, so if he's sidelined it would be a massive blow to Memphis' chances of advancing, though the Grizzlies will get Dillon Brooks back for Game 4 after he served his one-game suspension for his Flagrant 2 foul on Gary Payton in Game 2.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Stellar line falls short
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Morant closed with 34 points (13-21 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 4-5 FT), three rebounds, seven assists and three steals across 36 minutes during Saturday's 142-112 loss to Golden State.
Morant did all that he could to keep the Grizzlies in the game, but the loss of Dillon Brooks (suspension) seemed to have a negative effect on both sides of the ball, and Memphis was unable to contain Golden State's explosive offense down the stretch. Morant will continue to be crucial as the Grizzlies try to take a win in San Francisco before heading home. The 2021 All-Star stands out as one of the most prolific players during the playoffs this season.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Explodes for 47 points
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Morant amassed 47 points (15-31 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 12-13 FT), eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals across 41 minutes during Tuesday's 106-101 win over the Warriors.
The league's Most Improved Player was brilliant in the Game 2 victory, and drained Memphis' last 15 points to put the Grizzlies ahead for good. With his second outing of 45-plus points during the playoffs, Morant joined rarified air as the third player in NBA history to have more than one 45-point game in the postseason before the age of 23, an honor only shared with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Morant recorded his second-highest shot volume of the season (31) and converted 48.3 percent of his shot attempts.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Drops 34, Grizzlies come up short
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Morant produced 34 points (14-31 FG, 4-11 3Pt, 2-3 FT), nine rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in 38 minutes during Sunday's 117-116 loss to the Warriors.
It was an overall up-and-down game for the Grizzlies' offense, as they shot just 43.2 percent as a team and committed 14 turnovers, but Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. (33 points) combined for 67 points and a number of big-time shots down the stretch. While Morant's running layup attempt caromed off the rim as time expired, the newly minted Most Improved Player had another monster statistical game. He fell one rebound short of a triple-double and drilled as many three-pointers (four) as he hit during the Grizzlies' entire Round 1 series against Minnesota (4-20 3Pt). Dating back to Game 2 of that series, Morant has posted at least nine assists and at least eight rebounds in each of his last six games.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Shines in Game 5 win
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Morant amassed 30 points (9-22 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 11-17 FT), 13 rebounds, nine assists and three steals across 45 minutes during Tuesday's 111-109 victory over the Timberwolves.
Morant recorded more than 30 percent of his points from the charity stripe and the numbers might indicate this wasn't his best scoring performance, but he still ended one assist away from a triple-double and took over the game when the Grizzlies needed him the most. Aside from draining a clutch three late in the fourth quarter, Morant came up huge in the final seconds with an acrobatic lay-up that allowed Memphis to escape with a two-point win while grabbing the series' lead now that the action shifts to Minnesota on Friday. Through the five games of the series, Morant is averaging 22.4 points, 10.4 assists and 8.8 rebounds per game while posting three double-doubles and one triple-double.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Triple-double in comeback win
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Morant recorded 16 points (5-18 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 5-10 FT), 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks and one steal in 41 minutes during Thursday's 104-95 win over Minnesota.
The Grizzlies were down by 26 at one point Thursday, but Morant helped power an incredible comeback to give Memphis a 2-1 series lead. The third-year point guard is off to a fast start in the postseason, averaging 23.7 points, 9.3 assists, 7.7 boards, 1.3 steals, 1.0 threes and 1.0 blocks over three games against Minnesota.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Near triple-double in win
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Morant put up 23 points (9-16 FG, 2-4 3PT, 3-4 FT), 10 assists, nine rebounds and one steal in Tuesday's 124-96 win over Minnesota.
Morant fell one rebound shy of his fifth career triple-double. The Murray State product recorded his fifth straight game of 20-plus points and fourth straight game of eight-plus assists. He'll look to keep things rolling in Game 3.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Returns to Tuesday's game
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Morant (leg) returned to Tuesday's Game 2 during the fourth quarter, per the NBATV broadcast.
Morant briefly went to the locker room and used a heating pad on his quad before returning, but it appears that he's alright. He might land on the injury report ahead of Thursday's Game 3, though it'd be surprising if he sat out.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Heads to locker room
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Morant went to the locker room with an apparent leg injury during the third quarter of Tuesday's Game 2 against the Timberwolves, Rob Fischer of Bally Sports Southeast reports.
Morant appeared to take a knee to the thigh while navigating around a screen, and he walked gingerly to the locker room. He should be considered questionable to return until an update is provided.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Leads Grizz with 32 in Game 1
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Morant provided 32 points (8-18 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 16-20 FT), four rebounds, eight assists and one steal over 35 minutes during Saturday's 130-117 loss to the Timberwolves.
The third-year guard played in only one of Memphis' final 11 games while tending to a knee injury, but Morant looked healthy to begin the team's postseason run as he and Minnesota's Anthony Edwards became the first pair of opponents age 22 or younger to score 30 or more points in the same playoff game. The Grizzlies aren't going to go down quietly after the best regular season in franchise history, so expect Morant to come out firing again in Game 2 on Tuesday.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Won't play Sunday
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Morant (knee) is out Sunday against the Celtics.
Morant, along with the majority of Memphis' regulars, will be sidelined for the regular season finale. With Morant and Tyus Jones (hand) out, De'Anthony Melton figures to draw the start at point guard.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Drops 21 in return
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Morant (knee) racked up 21 points (7-14 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 5-7 FT), nine assists, four rebounds and one block across 27 minutes during Saturday's 141-114 win over the Pelicans.
Seeing his first action since March 18 after recovering from a knee injury, Morant didn't seem to be limited as he fell just short of his 11th double-double of the season. The third-year point guard will wrap up his breakout campaign Sunday against the Celtics as the Grizzlies look to set a new franchise record for wins in a season.
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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Will play, start Saturday
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Morant (knee) will play and start Saturday against the Pelicans, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.
Morant will return following a nine-game absence due to right knee soreness. It wouldn't be surprising to see him on a minutes limit, and he may be rested in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Celtics.
