Shams Charania broke the news Friday that all Grizzlies fans were both expecting and dreading. Ja Morant will miss Game 4 of the Grizzlies’ first-round playoff series. Morant had a tough fall in Game 3 of the Thunder-Grizzlies series and was unable to return to the game. Morant was later seen on crutches, the first indication that he may miss some time with injury. Now it sounds like Morant will at least be out for Game 4, and if the Grizzlies somehow survive, potentially more games after that. Morant’s Game 4 status is the final nail in the coffin for what has been a fairly disappointing season for the Grizzlies. They can officially start making major decisions regarding the future of the franchise.
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant will miss Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday due to a hip injury, sources tell ESPN. Morant played through a significant ankle sprain to clinch a playoff spot last week, then suffered a scary fall on his hip Thursday. pic.twitter.com/8i74mDuz08
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 25, 2025
Ja Morant’s Game 4 Status Revealed, Grizzlies Are In Trouble
Prepare for the Thunder to Sweep the Grizzlies
With the most recent Morant injury update, it is reasonable to expect that the Grizzlies’ season is over. There were some moments during Game 3 where it looked like the Grizzlies were going to put up a fight against the dominant Thunder, but once Morant went down, that hope quickly disappeared.
Memphis responded to Morant leaving the game by blowing their 29-point lead, giving the Thunder a 3-0 series lead. Now with Morant out for Game 4, most are getting out the brooms in anticipation of the Thunder to sweep the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies’ Up and Down Season
Morant’s injury is the final story of what has been a very odd season for Memphis. They spent much of the beginning of the season surprising many by holding down a top-three seed in the competitive Western Conference. The Grizzlies ended their season sliding in the standings down to the eighth seed, narrowly making the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament. They also fired their head coach just a few games before the season ended, a move that indicated major issues within the organization.
What’s Next For The Grizzlies
Now that Morant’s Game 4 status is clear, the Grizzlies must start looking toward the future. They already had a slim chance of upsetting the Thunder in the first round, but without Morant, they can kiss any chance they have goodbye. It is now time to look towards next season and the future.
It seemed like just a couple of seasons ago, the young Grizzlies were preparing to be a Western Conference bully for many years to come. Then, multiple injuries and some dramatic suspensions of Morant have kept them out of a contending position. Now, teams like the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder have taken that spot, leaving the Grizzlies to wonder what their future holds. If the Thunder are the new measuring stick in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies have a long way to go.
The first thing the Grizzlies must do to sure up their future is figure out who will lead them. Picking their next head coach is vital to figuring out their identity for the future. After that, they will need to figure out if Morant is the player they want to build their team around. Through injuries and suspensions, Morant hasn’t played more than 65 games since his rookie season. This is not the ideal player to build your franchise around. So, although Morant’s injury and status for Game 4 may not be the end-all be-all for the Grizzlies, it may trigger some major changes in Memphis.
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