Ja Morant’s ankle injury update: how long will the Grizzlies’ star be out?

It wasn’t the sight that Memphis Grizzlies fans, never mind the coaching and playing staff, would have wanted to see as the new NBA season bounces ever closer. Monday night’s preseason matchup against the Dallas Mavericks was a chance to take stock of where preparations were and fine-tune, but for Ja Morant the post-game questions were about his ankle.

The star point guard rolled his ankle in the second quarter, briefly attempted to return, but ultimately hobbled off for good early in the third. The positive news is that it doesn’t seem to be serious. Coach Taylor Jenkins, who likely felt a brief lump in his throat as he saw his player limp away, described the move as “precautionary.”

Morant himself shrugged it off in true Ja fashion, saying, “I’m good. It’s preseason, man.” Certainly a feeling, therefore, that he won’t be out for long, and given how he played, that’s very much wanted.

Will Ja Morant be ready for new season?

While Morant’s comment about preseason may seem casual, Memphis is taking no chances. The Grizzlies have seen enough of the injury bug to last a lifetime, particularly in the 2023-24 season, when their roster collectively missed a jaw-dropping 578 games. It’s maybe no surprise then that they want Morant to sit out the rest of the preseason to ensure he’s fully ready for the regular season grind.

The Grizzlies return to action on Thursday in their preseason matchup against the Charlotte Hornets, but it’s unlikely Morant will see the court until it really matters. With the regular season kicking off on October 23 against the Utah Jazz, Memphis is making it clear that their priority is having him ready for that. Clearly we’ll all be watching his recovery process closely in the coming weeks.