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Ja Morant Downplays Ankle Sprain, Signals Confidence for Grizzlies’ Opener

He remains week to week with a left ankle sprain, leaving his Oct. 22 availability officially uncertain given injuries to Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey, Brandon Clarke.

Overview

  • Memphis announced on Oct. 6 that Morant is week to week after spraining his left ankle in practice, with coach Tuomas Iisalo calling it a routine basketball play and expressing optimism about a return soon.
  • Morant told reporters, “They be tweakin’,” and said there is nothing to worry about, though he has not played in preseason and remains on a week-to-week timeline.
  • The Grizzlies open at home against the Pelicans on Oct. 22, and it is unclear whether Morant will see preseason minutes before then.
  • Morant has appeared in just 59 regular-season games over the past two years and about 56% of games over the last four seasons, despite stating a goal to play all 82 this season.
  • Memphis is managing multiple absences: Jaren Jackson Jr. on a four-to-six-week timetable after surgery, Zach Edey targeting a mid-to-late November return from ankle surgery, and Brandon Clarke expected to miss the opener.