Photo: Peter Baba

Grizzlies star Ja Morant was forced to exit early during Friday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans after experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder.

While the injury did not appear immediately severe, the situation is concerning given that it’s the same shoulder Morant had surgically repaired back in January.

The previous surgery has understandably heightened the team’s caution, and Memphis is committed to taking a careful, measured approach with their star point guard.

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins addressed the injury after the game, confirming that Morant would be reevaluated in the “next couple of days” to determine the severity of the ailment.

This reevaluation will provide a clearer picture of the injury’s impact and whether Morant will be able to continue playing in the coming games or if additional time off will be necessary.

Morant’s injury history, combined with his importance to the team, makes it essential for Memphis to exercise patience and prioritize his long-term health.

While the Grizzlies are hopeful that the injury won’t be serious, the team is likely to err on the side of caution to avoid a more significant setback.

Morant’s presence is crucial to the team’s success, so the Grizzlies will proceed with all due diligence to ensure that the injury is managed appropriately and does not worsen.

The coming days will be critical in determining the course of action for Morant’s recovery.

If the reevaluation reveals more serious concerns, the team may need to make adjustments to their lineup to account for his absence, though they will undoubtedly do everything in their power to get him back on the court as soon as it is safe to do so.