Ja Morant won’t be returning to the court anytime soon.
The Memphis Grizzlies announced on Wednesday that the star guard will be re-evaluated in two weeks as he continues to recover from a UCL sprain in his left elbow.
Morant suffered the injury in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 21 and was originally expected to miss approximately three weeks. Although the 26-year-old is progressing toward a return, according to the Grizzlies, he continues to experience discomfort.
The injury occurred when the high-flyer pinged his elbow off the backboard in the third quarter after he soared to block a Dyson Daniels layup in transition. Morant was subsequently ruled out ahead of the Grizzlies’ loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and has missed 11 consecutive games leading into the all-star break.
It’s the former Rookie of the Year’s fourth extended absence of the season after previously missing 10 consecutive games, then four straight, and most recently six in a row, all due to a lingering calf injury.
Morant’s latest hiatus put a halt to the little semblance of momentum the two-time all-star had put together this season with back-to-back 20-point double-double performances for the first time in 2025-26.
The sixth-year guard has only suited up in 20 of Memphis’ first 53 games, averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.0 steals (on 3.6 turnovers). It’s been a down year for Morant relative to his previous success, as the former Most Improved Player is scoring the fewest points per game in his career since he was a rookie, while posting a career-worst 52.1 per cent true shooting.
In 327 games since the Grizzlies drafted Morant second overall in 2019, he’s averaged 22.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists.
Meanwhile, the team also announced that veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will undergo a surgical procedure to address misalignment on his right pinky finger and will be sidelined indefinitely. A timeline will be provided following surgery.
The 33-year-old has played in all but two games for the Grizzlies this season, averaging 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists through his 51 appearances (14 starts). Caldwell-Pope is in his first season with the franchise after he was acquired in the deal that sent Desmond Bane — in exchange for four first-round picks — to the Orlando Magic.
Memphis returns to action on Friday as it hosts the Utah Jazz, welcoming back Jaren Jackson Jr. for the first time since the star forward and former Defensive Player of the Year was shipped off at the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
