Ja Morant Out at Least Four Weeks With Grade 2 Hamstring Strain Suffered Against Former Team Grizzlies

Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant will miss at least four weeks with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on October 30, 2026. Morant, 27, scored 14 points in 23 minutes against his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, before leaving the game with the injury.

If there were to be a storybook ending, or even a great chapter at that, it would have been with Morant leading his new team, the Portland Trail Blazers, to win their game against his old team, the Memphis Grizzlies.

The superstar point guard was left rethinking his career choices when the latter franchise made no secret of its desire to part ways with the Murray State alum. Of course, injuries were a major contributing factor.

But apart from that, it was his fit in the new system designed by head coach Tuomas Iisalo. That new scheme already saw other fan favorites, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., move to other franchises.

So it was only a matter of time this past offseason before Morant learned his fate. A move to the Trail Blazers came with its own set of question marks. However, what truly mattered for the outlandish star’s fans was how he could exact his revenge.

He even requested NBA YoungBoy‘s ‘Cross Me‘ to be played through the speakers during warm-ups. It was a subtle shot at the Grizzlies, as if they were the ones who did wrong by him.

Portland Trail Blazers’ Ja Morant has sustained a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will miss at least four weeks, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/1XHMXZkTSX

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 30, 2026

Instead, his night ended early. He had 14 points as a starter when the hamstring gave out after 23 minutes, and the Trail Blazers now have to manage at least a month without their new point guard.

Fans react to another Ja Morant injury

It so happens that the NBA is currently suffering from an injury crisis. Approximately 15% of its players are listed on the injury report, including some high-profile names. Now, Ja Morant joins that list.

Fans hoped he would shake off his injury-riddled past this season and prove the Memphis Grizzlies wrong for letting him go. Instead, another injury piles on the troubles. Fans felt that the South Carolina native was not catching a break. One fan summed up the mood:

@ShamsCharania This guy can’t get a break. Reset these next 4 weeks.

— Black124 (@Black124) October 31, 2026

Ja Morant already has a checkered history in terms of his gun-related incidents. With injuries following him, fans felt that the universe was being tough on him. Now, they will have to wait for four more weeks to see whether he can fulfill his potential with his new team.

Nick Young not happy with media-trained version of Ja Morant

Those gun-related incidents also impacted Ja Morant’s tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies. His legacy in those seven years there is now that of injuries and off-the-court antics.

Now, with the Portland Trail Blazers, fans have noted that the two-time All-Star is a lot more down-to-earth and careful with his words. Gone are the days when he was defying the NBA’s fines and bringing out all sorts of creative celebrations.

I don’t like this Ja. He’s broken… The media done broke him… I want him to have that type of energy. I love the shoes, I love he’s giving off, but I like throwing the grenade, Ja. Bring him back.

Nick Young

The former champion reiterated on Gil’s Arena that, considering how popular Ja Morant is, he looks and talks very differently from what made him a household name. Fans remember him for those grenade-throwing celebrations.

Now, with the Trail Blazers, he is trying to ‘fit in.’ That is not the reason why his shoes sell more than those of LeBron James. Nick Young wants the guard to go back to what made him famous.

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