London could see Ja Morant's return! The star guard inches closer to playing, ending his absence amid growing franchise uncertainty.
Ja Morant’s return to the court may come not at FedEx Forum, but under the lights of London, as the Memphis Grizzlies’ star guard moves closer to ending a six-game absence that has unfolded alongside mounting questions about the franchise’s direction.
Morant is trending toward playing Sunday against the Orlando Magic at O2 Arena, a matchup that concludes the NBA’s two-game Europe series. After missing Thursday’s game in Berlin with a right calf contusion, Morant practiced fully Friday and is listed as probable, a notable step forward as Memphis weighs both his health and the broader implications of rushing him back.
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo offered cautious optimism following Friday’s session, emphasizing that the final decision will depend on how Morant’s body responds overnight.
“There’s a good chance he plays,” Iisalo said. “He went through full practice today, and now we’ve just got to see how his body responds in the morning.”
Morant has not appeared since suffering the calf contusion, missing six consecutive games during a stretch that has tested a Memphis team already struggling to gain traction in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies enter the London game at 17-23, sitting 11th in the standings and drifting further from the group of teams positioned to avoid the play-in tournament.
The timing of Morant’s potential return carries added weight. Even before the injury, his availability had been inconsistent this season, and Memphis has gone 6-12 in the 18 games he has played. Individually, Morant is averaging 19 points and 7.6 assists, production that remains solid but has not translated into sustained momentum for a team still searching for continuity.
His absence from the opening game in Berlin was expected, with Memphis ruling him out a day in advance under league injury-report guidelines. Still, the disappointment was evident, particularly given Morant’s global appeal and the NBA’s desire to showcase its stars during international events. League officials had publicly expressed hope earlier in the week that Morant could suit up in London, a sentiment that now appears increasingly realistic.
Beyond the immediate injury concerns, Morant’s status has become intertwined with trade speculation that has followed the Grizzlies through Europe. In recent days, Memphis has begun listening to offers involving the two-time All-Star, marking the first time in Morant’s seven seasons that the organization has explored trade possibilities around him. The development reflects the uncertainty surrounding a team that has struggled to stabilize amid injuries, inconsistency, and a crowded Western Conference race.
Morant has largely avoided engaging with those discussions publicly, declining to address questions earlier in the week about his future with the franchise. For now, the focus remains on his health and whether he can safely return without risking further setbacks.
Financially, Morant remains one of the league’s most significant investments. He is earning approximately $39.4 million this season and is in the third year of a five-year, $197.2 million contract, a deal that underscores both his value and the complexity of any long-term decisions involving him.
A return in London would offer a brief shift in narrative, placing the spotlight back on Morant’s play rather than his absence or his name in trade discussions. It would also give international fans a chance to see one of the NBA’s most dynamic guards live, aligning with the league’s broader push to grow its global presence.
Whether Morant ultimately takes the floor Sunday will hinge on how his calf responds in the final hours before tipoff. Regardless, his situation continues to loom large — not only for the Grizzlies’ immediate outlook, but for a franchise navigating one of the more uncertain stretches of its recent history.