BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 12: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on from the bench during the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on November 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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One of the early storylines of the 2025-26 NBA season has been what is happening with Ja Morant in Memphis. Memphis once seemed to be in a great position with Morant at the helm, but with a 4-9 start this season and countless headlines about Morant’s effort level and desire to remain in Memphis, things have taken a turn for the worse.
On Halloween the Grizzlies suffered a 117-112 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Morant was definitely not at his best in this matchup. Morant finished with a mere 8 points, and 7 assists and shot 3/14 from the field and 0/6 from three. Every player is going to inevitably have bad games, but what stood out about this performance from Morant was his level of effort.
This effort, or lack thereof against the Lakers caused a dispute between Morant and a Grizzlies assistant coach. In a post-game interview after the loss to the Lakers, Morant repeatedly told media members to direct their questions to the coaching staff when they were asking about his lack of effort. Morant was alluding to the dispute he had with a coaching staff member, and this led to the Grizzlies suspending him for one game for conduct detrimental to the team.
In the games after his suspension, Morant has not had a night where he shot above 35 percent from the field and he has had a combined 29 turnovers across those 5 games as well. His 8 turnover performance against the New York Knicks was just inexcusable, he was just randomly whipping the ball out of bounds and constantly losing sight of his man. When you turn on a Grizzlies game, you do not see the Morant that you saw in the past, the passing is careless, he isn’t driving with as much vigor as he once did, and his attention on defense is extremely poor. One could assume that Morant may be quiet quitting and it is becoming apparent that his time in Memphis will be coming to an end if his play continues at this rate.
This season Morant has posted averages of 18.9 points per game which is the lowest since his rookie season, 8.1 assists per game with 4 turnovers per game and he’s shooting 16.7 percent from three and 46 percent true shooting. This is the lowest true shooting percentage Morant has ever recorded and the most turnovers per game he has ever recorded as well as the worst he’s ever shot from the field and from behind the arc as well.
In Morant’s defense, these stats are just through 11 games this year, and there is still plenty of time to improve them and turn his season around. This just may not be a reality in Memphis any longer. In the offseason the Grizzlies traded away Desmond Bane which signified that they may not be all in on this current core of theirs. They should explore trading Morant, as the relationship has seemed to sour, potentially beyond repair.
Morant’s stats may not be good this season, but at 26 years old teams can still buy low on him with the hope that he can turn things around. When he is engaged, Morant is one of the most explosive drivers in the NBA, and a very strong passer as well who can uplift his teammates. Potential trade partners could be the Detroit Pistons, or the Miami Heat, two teams who have strong coaching, and players that complement Morant’s playstyle. It remains to be seen what will come of this Morant and Memphis situation, but the best thing for both sides may be to simply part ways.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikaibruce/2025/11/15/is-ja-morants-time-in-memphis-coming-to-an-end/
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