Ja Morant, the star player for the Memphis Grizzlies, will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn labrum in his shoulder, as announced by the team on Monday night.
The injury occurred on Saturday, and subsequent MRI scans revealed the presence of an underlying tear, necessitating season-ending surgery.
This setback compounds a series of challenges for Morant, who was previously suspended for 25 games at the start of the season for posing with a firearm in a livestreamed video in May.
Despite the suspension, Morant returned to the court on December 19th, delivering a pivotal performance with a game-winning shot in a victory against New Orleans.
Since his initial suspension in March, Morant has faced a combined suspension of 33 games for incidents related to firearms.
Prior to his injury, Morant was showcasing impressive stats, averaging 25.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Grizzlies, who hold a record of 13-23.
Selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, Morant earned accolades including the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year and the 2022 Most Improved Player.
Morant's absence leaves a significant void in the Grizzlies' lineup, impacting their performance for the remainder of the season.