Ja Morant is one of the most exciting players in the NBA. He’s fun to watch, is a great offense and defensive presence, and has changed the course of the Grizzlies franchise. However, like any player, he’s not invincible. He’s dealt with some injuries during his young career.
Throughout the following sections I will look at Morant’s injury history. That will both give more insight into his personal career, as well as shed light on why some other players around the league have (or haven’t) come back from their own ailments.
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In Good Health
Basketball is a demanding sport. Every player suffers some sort of injury from time to time, especially when that player is going through the constant strain that’s required for the NBA.
While Morant has had to take some games off, he’s actually stayed relatively healthy.
In his first two seasons with the Grizzlies he only missed a total of 15 games. That’s not to say he was in perfect health the entire time, but he’s managed to do a good job of avoiding any major issues by keeping his body in tip top shape.
Staying healthy is one of the most important things any player can do, and it seems Morant understands that. If he does suffer a slight injury or doesn’t feel great, he’s not afraid to sit. That’s going to go a long way as he continues his NBA career.
Some Minor Tweaks
Morant has experienced a total of ten official injuries so far, but most of them were minor.
Coming into the league, he had a small ankle tweak in October, 2019, followed by three back issues in November and December. He then suffered another ankle injury a few weeks later.
However, those ailments didn’t do much to hold him back. He only missed a couple of games, and he even played through the back injury he suffered in May 2021.
A few other niggling problems, such as back spasms, sore thighs, and a foot injury, caused him to take some games off too. His biggest gap came when he missed nine games with a grade 2 ankle sprain when playing the Hawks in 2021.
The Big Ones
As great as Morant has been at keeping off the court when hurt, he’s been known to push it every now and then too. That’s something many superstars do, especially when their team is attempting to make a significant playoff push.
He had an amazing rookie year, but afterwards he revealed he ended the year in rather rough shape. The star got a “significant upper leg injury” during the season restart in the bubble. He also pushed through the last four games of the season with a fractured thumb.
Not only that, but on February 24th, 2022 he also played with a bad hip. He powered through it, and assured everyone it wasn’t too bad, but definitely looked to be in pain. That’s important for a playoff push, but hopefully he doesn’t make a habit out of playing through the pain.
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Final Words
Injuries are one of the worst things that can happen in sports. It doesn’t matter how good a player is or how much of a star they are, it doesn’t matter if they can’t get on the court. That’s why health is such a critical part of the game.
Ja Morant is not someone who always sits out when he should, but he’s a stout player who does a great job of knowing when to step back. As long as he stays on that track and doesn’t suit up while injured, he should have a long, healthy career.
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