Ja Morant out multiple weeks in latest early-season NBA injury crusher
Ja Morant’s first season with the Trail Blazers is already on hold.Add him to the list.The two-time All-Star suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain during Thursday’s 124-103 loss to his former team, the Grizzlies, on Thursday and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the Blazers confirmed.Morant, 27, sustained the injury midway through the fourth quarter as the game began to get away from Portland.
He was seen grabbing at the back of his left leg mid-action.He exited with 7:46 remaining and was examined on the bench before being ruled out.An MRI subsequently confirmed the injury, which will likely hold him out of action for at least another month.Morant finished with 14 points, three assists and went 2-for-5 from 3-point range in 23 minutes.Morant’s latest setback follows several injury-plagued seasons that contributed to Memphis trading him to Portland — along with the fact that he’s due about $97 million over this and next season.He underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in January 2024 after tearing his labrum.He subsequently dealt with hip, ankle and other injuries before a left elbow sprain ended his 2025-26 season.Morant appeared in just 79 games across his final three seasons in Memphis, a total also affected by suspensions due to his off-court conduct.His availability, declining production, expensive contract and previous off-court issues complicated the Grizzlies’ efforts to trade him, and reportedly, there wasn’t much of a robust market available prior to the 2026 trade deadline, nor this past offseason.Morant signed a five-year, $197 million extension in 2022 and received NBA suspensions of eight and 25 games in 2023 following separate incidents involving firearms displayed on social media.He was suspended for another game last November by the Grizzlies due to conduct detrimental to the team.He averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists in 20 games last season.
The assists matched a career high, but the scoring was his lowest since the 2020-21...