Ja Morant was unavailable for the Memphis Grizzlies during their dominant 140-112 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, as he continues to deal with soreness in his right foot.
The injury, which has plagued Morant since the team’s January 9 loss to the Houston Rockets, forced him to miss yet another game, raising concerns about his availability as the regular season progresses.
This latest absence brings Morant’s total to 18 games missed this season.
As a result, he is no longer eligible to compete for any of the NBA’s coveted regular-season awards, such as Most Valuable Player or All-NBA Team honors, which require a player to meet specific participation thresholds.
The setback is unfortunate for both the star point guard and the team, as Morant’s electrifying performances are central to Memphis’ success and identity.
Despite his absence, the Grizzlies have showcased their resilience, improving to an 11-7 record in games without Morant this season.
The team has relied on contributions from other key players to maintain their position as one of the Western Conference’s top contenders.
Memphis’ depth, defensive intensity, and unselfish style of play have enabled them to weather the storm, but they’ll undoubtedly hope for a fully healthy Morant as they gear up for the playoffs.
Morant has played for the Grizzlies for six seasons. He has averaged 22.4 points, 7.4 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 281 regular-season games. He was selected to play in two All-Star games.
He has won the Rookie of the Year award and one Most Improved Player award.
Ja Morant Misses Friday Game With Foot Soreness, No Longer Eligible For NBA Awards https://t.co/8WnqeMn4f6
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 18, 2025
