First time this regular season that Grizzlier host Wizards but Ja Morant won’t be available to welcome them. Memphis is riding high in the confidence of their last 131-114 win against the Lakers. The star of the game was, however, LeBron James, with his game-high 39 points. What worked for the Grizzlies was the collective effort of Ja Morant, Jaylen Wells, and Jaren Jackson Jr. With each of them coming in with 20 points, Morant’s absence became an issue of concern. If you’re wondering the reason, the Memphis head coach has the answer.

“Ja Morant will have a follow-up consultation tomorrow, and the Grizzlies will have a better idea of his timeline after that, Taylor Jenkins said,” Damichael Cole, Grizzlies beat reporter, posted on X. Prior to this, the team had already released its injury report, ruling G12 for the upcoming game because of right hip soreness.

The 2x All-Star’s injury stems from an awkward play in Wednesday’s game against the Lakers. In the third quarter, he drove toward the basket, only to be body slammed by Lakers center Christian Koloko. This led to Morant leaving the court early. Having scored 20 points along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists over 24 minutes of action, including 2 three-pointers. When he exited, the Grizzlies were up 87-75 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. And it seemed Memphis wanted to play it safe with their star point guard.

Despite the fall, the 25-year-old initially reassured fans after the game, saying he felt “good.” But the reality changed after Thursday’s imaging, which revealed right hip soreness. Consequently, G12 was declared out for the game against the Wizards. For a player like Ja Morant, who has struggled with injuries recently, his absence stirs up memories of past issues.

Earlier this preseason, he dealt with an ankle injury that slowed down his conditioning coming into the regular season. For Memphis fans, these injuries hit close to home. Last season was a harsh reminder of how crucial health is for success. The Grizzlies missed out on the playoffs, finishing with only 27 wins after three straight postseason appearances. It may surprise you that they endured more games missed due to injuries than any other team!

Morant himself was only able to play 9 games before a shoulder injury abruptly ended his season, which was already shortened due to a 25-game suspension. The toll on the team was unmistakable. Grizzlies fans likely remember that Jaren Jackson Jr. was the only core player to have a relatively healthy season, playing 66 games, while Desmond Bane managed just 42 appearances.

With this many key players on the sidelines, it was no surprise that Memphis faced an uphill battle. Now, the recently revealed injury report by the team points out a major concern that could become an issue this season as well.

Can the Grizzlies potentially face a serious point guard problem?

The Memphis might be on the verge of a serious point guard dilemma. And it’s a situation that’s hard to overlook. If you’ve been following their moves, you’d know they already waived Derrick Rose, removing a backup for the position. And yes, Marcus Smart aka Wolverine can take on the primary ball-handling duties really well in Ja Morant’s absence. But here’s the catch—he’s only played 200 games over the last four seasons.

There’s a real possibility that the Grizzlies could be left without a true point guard if things don’t go as planned. And this almost played out in their recent game, where Scotty Pippen Jr. was the only point guard on the court. Sure, he’s talented, but let’s be honest—he’s not quite as experienced as Wolverine yet. And as fate would have it, Smart was already sidelined with a right ankle sprain. A blow was revealed in the injury report ahead of their matchup with the Wizards.

Imagine the strain on Pippen in that game, knowing he was the sole option to run the offense. For fans who were excited about Smart’s comeback, this injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. After a frustrating season largely lost to a finger injury, Marcus looked excited for a comeback this year. Even showcasing a leaner build on social media.

But just five games into the season, he picked up that ankle injury against the Nets. And his return is still up in the air, marked as week-to-week. With both Ja Morant and Smart out, the Grizzlies’ point guard depth rests almost entirely on Scotty Pippen Jr.

Now, some might point to Yuki Kawamura as another option, but if it comes to him, the Grizzlies may be in serious trouble. Nothing against the Japanese basketball star, but his last season’s stats do not exactly scream reliability. So it becomes really important for Ja Morant to return from his right hip injury and he does it soon.