The absence of Ja Morant Grizzlies-Spurs has dire consequences
When is it Memphis Grizzlies play against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, I Morant will not be there. The star guard is out for this matchup with soreness in his right foot, leaving the Grizzlies at a disadvantage as they look to win their second straight.
Morant’s absence will be much more expensive for him on an individual level than missing this game with his team. This will be his 18th game missed this season, meaning he can play a maximum of 64 games. That makes him officially ineligible for postseason awards and All-NBA teams.
Morant has recently missed an extended period of time due to a shoulder injury, and now appears on the injury report with a foot problem. Now that reaching the 65 game mark is off the table, he can focus on getting healthy for the rest of the season.
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Morant’s health will be a major story to watch as the season progresses due to the success the Grizzlies have had so far in the 2024-25 season. Memphis is currently 26-15 and in third place in the Western Conference despite their star having missed several games. Behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, the West appears to be up for grabs, and the Grizzlies appear to have what it takes to grab that second spot.
On an individual level, this will hurt Morant. He’s had a great season so far this year when healthy, averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 assists per game. Those stats won’t put him in the MVP discussion, but they would keep him in the All-NBA hunt for the rest of the season as he leads one of the best teams in the league.
It would be difficult for Morant to crack the threshold to become All-NBA in a very crowded league, especially at his position, but that goes out the window now. Instead, all of his focus will be on winning and helping the Grizzlies make the playoffs.
2025-01-18 02:49:00
