Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 sprain in his acromioclavicular (AC) joint, as announced by the team. The injury is classified as week-to-week in nature. Morant sustained the shoulder injury during a match against the New Orleans Pelicans, where he collided with Daniel Theis in the third quarter. Following the incident, he exited the game and underwent examinations before returning to the bench, though he did not participate for the remainder of the contest.

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins initially provided no update regarding the player's status, noting that further evaluations would occur in the coming days. Prior to this injury, Morant had already faced challenges, having missed eight games due to hip and pelvic muscle injuries. He made his return to the court on November 25, achieving impressive stats of 22 points and 11 assists in a decisive 123-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Throughout the current season, Morant is averaging 21.2 points, 7.9 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, marking the first time since his second year in the league that his scoring average has dipped below 25 points per game.

It is noteworthy that just a year prior, Morant was restricted to only nine games due to a suspension, followed by shoulder surgery. Throughout his career, he has managed to play over 65 games in a single season only once, during his rookie year. When healthy, Morant is widely regarded as one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the NBA. As the second overall pick in the 2019 draft, he plays a crucial role for a young and talented Grizzlies team currently positioned second in the Western Conference with a record of 22-10. Should Morant need to miss additional time due to this injury, the Grizzlies will look to star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. to take the lead. Veteran point guard Marcus Smart and promising young talent Scotty Pippen Jr. are also expected to see increased responsibilities in the interim.