SUMMARY
- Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery due to a labral tear.
- The Grizzlies' current starting lineup without Morant includes Marcus Smart as the point guard, Desmond Bane as the shooting guard, Luke Kennard as the small forward, Xavier Tillman as power forward, and Jaren Jackson Jr. as the center.
The Memphis Grizzlies are facing a challenging phase as their star point guard, Ja Morant, is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. This news is a major setback to the team, especially after Morant’s return from a 25-game suspension had given the Grizzlies a much-needed boost. With a current record of 13-23, the team is going through a crucial part of the season.
The decision for surgery was made after Morant suffered a shoulder subluxation during a recent practice session. He was absent in the Grizzlies’ latest victory over the Phoenix Suns. Following ongoing soreness and instability, Morant underwent an MRI, which revealed an underlying labral tear. The surgery will repair this tear.
BREAKING: Ja Morant is out for the rest of the season due to a labrum tear pic.twitter.com/Pd1cH3ROkm
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 9, 2024
The Grizzlies current starting lineup without Morant features Marcus Smart as the point guard (PG), Desmond Bane as shooting guard (SG), Luke Kennard as the small forward (SF), Xavier Tillman as power forward (PF), and Jaren Jackson Jr. as the center (C).
The team also dealing with the absence of center Steven Adams, who is out for the season due to a knee injury. The pressure is now on the remaining players, especially guards Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and Derrick Rose (still recovering from a left hamstring strain), to step up and fill the void left by Morant’s and Adams’ absences.
Marcus Smart will replace Ja Morant as the Grizzlies’ starting point guard
Following Ja Morant’s season-ending injury, Marcus Smart is looking forward to taking on the role of starting point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies. Smart’s role in the team has become more crucial, especially with the Grizzlies trying to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year whom the Celtics traded to Memphis during the offseason, is averaging 14.0 points and 4.5 assists this season. After a month-long injury that ended in mid-December, he returned to the Grizzlies on Dec. 26 and has averaged 27.0 points over the last two games, both of which the Grizzlies won.
Known for his defensive abilities, Smart also brings valuable offensive skills to the table. He is a crucial asset for Memphis because of his ability to make three-pointers and set up plays. Last season, he averaged a career-high 6.3 assists per game while playing for Boston.
With players like Smart stepping into bigger roles and the team building on its current momentum, the Grizzlies remain playoff contenders through the play-in tournament. As the season progresses with 46 games left, Grizzlies fans are eagerly anticipating how far the team can go.