On Tuesday, May 10th, 2022 the Memphis Grizzlies announced that their young, dominant, and NBA MVP caliber superstar point guard, Ja Morant, has suffered a severe bone bruise to his right knee, and at the moment he is considered to be doubtful for the rest of the 2022 NBA playoffs.
Details of Ja Morant’s Knee Injury & the Implications for the Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies disclosed that their absolutely without a doubt most valuable player in Morant recently underwent an MRI which exposed the extent of the knee injury that Ja endured during Game – 3 of the Western Conference semi – final round of the 2022 NBA playoffs.
After the results of his MRI, the Memphis Grizzlies publicly announced will be without the services of their superstar point – guard in Morant for the 2nd – consecutive game as the Memphis Grizzlies will have to try and avoid being eliminated from the 2022 NBA postseason versus the Golden State Warriors at home in Game – 5 of the series scheduled to tip – off on Wednesday, May 11th, 2022.
The Memphis Grizzlies say that Ja will definitely be expected to make a complete and full recovery from this right knee injury. The organization believes that he suffered the severe bone bruise to his right knee during a 4th – quarter play in Game – 3 of this 2nd – round series against the Golden State Warriors when Jordan Poole managed to trap the elusive Morant as he swiped for the basketball, but it is believed that he grabbed Morant’s right knee instead causing this significant injury to Ja.
The National Basketball Association did not see nor has any reason for disciplinary action in regards to the play in question where Morant was injured, but the Memphis Grizzlies fully believe that was the play that unfortunately “triggered” Ja’s series – altering right knee injury for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Memphis Grizzlies Playing without Ja Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies just so happened to compile an overall record of 20 and 5 without Morant during this current 2021 – 2022 NBA season, and they have desperately missed his impressive scoring abilities down the stretch in clutch – time.
For instance, during their 101 to 98 loss in Game – 4, the Memphis Grizzlies somehow missed 6 of their final 8 – shots of the contest after leading the Golden State Warriors by 3 – points with just 2:32 remaining on the game clock.
This postseason meltdown was completely inexcusable as the Memphis Grizzlies definitely had the crucial Game – 4of the series in hand for a win that would have tied up the series at 2 – games apiece if the Memphis Grizzlies could have only held on at the end of the game.
Morant, who superbly leads the National Basketball Association in clutch – time scoring with 42 – points during crunch – time throughout these 2022 NBA playoffs, has averaged 38.3 – points per game, 8.3 – assists per game, and 6.7 – rebounds per game over the course of this 2nd – round Western Conference semi – final series against the Golden State Warriors.
There is no doubt that the absence of Ja Morant will heavily impact the performance of the Memphis Grizzlies throughout the remainder of the 2022 NBA playoffs which may come to end for them on Wednesday, May 11th, 2022 if they so happen to lose that highly – important Game – 5 of their current series vs. the Golden State Warriors.
“You know how Ja is in the fourth quarters,” the Memphis Grizzlies power forward, Jaren Jackson Jr., stated regarding the Memphis Grizzlies having to play without Ja Morant during the clutch moments of Game – 4. “He dominates pretty much every fourth quarter. I’ve got to look at it, see how the looks were for sure, but I think we were just missing. We just missed.
“… We had a chance. We had the lead. Then we just kind of lost it; you know what I mean? You saw how it went. We just make a couple more shots, it’s a different story, especially late. … We’ve got to finish for sure. But we’re going to take some of that into Game – 5.”
Ja Morant’s Basketball Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
- NBA All – Star Selection (2022)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2020)
- NBA All – Rookie First – Team (2020)
- NBA Most Improved Player (2022)
- Consensus First – Team All – American (2019)
- NCAA College Basketball Season Assists Leader (2019)
- Lute Olson Award (2019)
- Bob Cousy Award (2019)
- OVC Player of the Year (2019)
- 2 – Time First – Team All – OVC (2018, 2019)
- OVC Tournament MVP (2019)
- OVC All – Newcomer Team (2018)
- Ja Morant’s Number 12 was Retired by the Murray State University Racers