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Ja Morant will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder. As such, the Memphis Grizzlies are now dealing with a major upset in their efforts to recover from a poor start. Memphis has won just 13 of its first 36 games and is 13th in the West, four-and-a-half games behind the final play-in spot.
Amid the news about Ja Morant's surgery, Memphis Grizzlies urged fans to buy tickets, offering super cheap packages. Fans mocked the franchise for the move.
"Ja “out of season” Sale"
"They’re now going for $3"
Ja Morant's 2023-24 season comes to an end after just 9 games
Ja Morant missed the first 25 games of the season, as he was suspended by the NBA due to off-court issues. The Grizzlies went 6-19 during this 25-game span.
Memphis was hopeful Morant's debut would help the franchise turn things around. Eventually, the Grizzlies won four straight and six of the nine games that the All-Star guard appeared in and were optimistic that they would be able to get back to playoff contention.
With Ja Morant out now, though, things will be difficult for Memphis, despite winning two in a row and six of its last 10 games.
"This group, we've been fighting all season longubut it's taken a turn right now, and they're seeing the results for it," Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said after Sunday's 121-115 road win over the Phoenix Suns, via NBA.com. "It's just two games playing really well, we know we've got a long way to go."
Ruling Ja Morant out was another upset for a Memphis Grizzlies team that has been struggling since the start of the season.
Veteran guards Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose joined the squad in the offseason with the task of elevating the Grizzlies' backcourt line and covering the gap that Ja Morant's suspension had created. Now, the two will have to step up again, as the Grizzlies will look to maintain their momentum and push for a play-in spot.
Ja Morant averaged 25.1 points, 8.1 assists and 5.6 rebounds in the nine games he played this season. Morant is a franchise star and is under a lucrative contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, which runs through the summer of 2028.
