Nineteen days ahead of the NBA trade deadline, the Ja Morant situation continues to generate new storylines out of Memphis. The Grizzlies’ broken relationship with the two-time All-Star guard is no secret, and ahead of their Jan. 15 game against the Orlando Magic in Berlin, Germany, viral footage of Morant’s heated altercation with teammate Vince Williams Jr. only made it more evident that a trade is no longer a choice but a necessity.
The man in the middle of all this, however, has been sidelined with an injury for two weeks. Now, as the Grizzlies prepare to take the court in a rematch against the Magic in London on Jan. 18, some positive updates on Morant’s status have emerged.
Grizzlies Coach Reveals Ja Morant’s Chances of Playing in London Against the Magic
Morant has missed the Grizzlies’ past six games with a right calf contusion. That includes the first of the two-game NBA Europe series, where the Magic beat the Grizzlies 118-111 in the NBA’s first regular-season game in Germany. The last time he played was on Jan. 2 in a 128-121 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. In 31 minutes, Morant logged 16 points, 11 assists, and 3 rebounds.
On Saturday, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Morant is hopeful to take the court in the Grizzlies-Magic London game, citing head coach Tuomas Iisalo.
“Grizzlies coach Tuolas Iisalo tells @talkSPORT “there’s a good possibility” that Ja Morant plays Sunday in London after missing the past six games with a calf contusion. Said Iisalo: ‘He went through the whole practice today. He was able to go even full speed (for) periods.'” Stein wrote on X.
Grizzlies coach Tuolas Iisalo tells @talkSPORT “there’s a good possibility” that Ja Morant plays Sunday in London after missing the past six games with a calf contusion.
Said Iisalo: “He went through the whole practice today. He was able to go even full speed (for) periods.” https://t.co/Gezd9ad5Lw
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 17, 2026
However, the coach also cautioned, “There’s obviously no guarantees, and he’s got to feel comfortable with how the calf feels.” The Grizzlies have reason for optimism, as Morant was listed as probable on the team’s latest injury report. The 26-year-old did not speak to the media after Saturday’s practice.
Notably, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had expressed disappointment when Morant sat out the Berlin game: “He has a tremendous following globally, and I wish he were able to play tonight,” Silver said. “I still am holding out hope he’ll be able to play when we are in London on Sunday. So yes, I’m disappointed he’s not on the floor tonight, but I understand he’s injured.”
All signs point toward Silver’s wish being fulfilled. That would also bring heightened scrutiny to a squad already dealing with significant noise surrounding Morant’s trade status. Iisalo, however, remains upbeat about his team, which has now lost seven of its past nine games.
“We are just focused on doing the work and doing our daily job,” he said. “Anybody who is here and sees the atmosphere that we have and the focus and the effort that guys are putting (in) sees that we have a great group. We are focused on the next game and making today count as much as possible by having great focus and great effort — that’s the one that we can control.”
Eastern Conference Team Projected To Be Frontrunner in Acquiring Morant
Among the teams linked to Morant, the Miami Heat have emerged as the strongest suitor. Both Stein and HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto have predicted that outcome recently. Stein also reported that Memphis is seeking a first-round pick and a younger player in return for Morant.
According to Scotto, there has been buzz around the league about Morant’s desire to land in Miami. However, it remains to be seen how far the Heat would be willing to go for a player who has dealt with significant availability issues.
Morant has never played 70 games in a season. He has appeared in just 212 games, including the regular season and playoffs, since the 2021-22 season, missing 178 games during that span. This year, he has played just 18 games, and the team is 6-12 in those contests. The 2019 second overall pick is averaging 19 points and 7.6 assists while shooting 40.1% from the floor and 20.8% from 3-point range, both career lows.
The seventh-year player will look to deliver a strong performance if he takes the court Sunday, which could help boost his otherwise stagnant trade market. Tipoff at the O2 Arena in London is scheduled for noon and will air on Prime Video.
