The Memphis Grizzlies have given up on their playoff hopes and are expected to miss the postseason as a slew of injury reports have surfaced during the season. Guard Ja Morant, forward Brandon Clarke, and center Zach Edey are all out with injuries and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, indicating that the Grizzlies’ main focus will shift to the 2026–27 season.
Grizzlies Shift Focus to Next Season Following Injuries to Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, and Zach Edey
Morant, who was the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2020, was absent for most of the 2025–26 season. He played no more than 20 games, averaging 19.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, and has appeared in only 79 games over the last three years due to suspensions and injuries.
The 26-year-old played his last game on Jan. 21 and hasn’t been able to rejoin the squad as the Memphis Grizzlies continue to face roadblocks in the ongoing season, having already given up their playoff hopes and currently sitting 12th in the Western Conference.
Morant’s elbow injury has been undergoing rehabilitation, and he will receive a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection to streamline the healing process, with the goal of rejoining the squad in the 2026–27 season.
Clarke, who has been a mainstay on the Grizzlies roster, is also in rehabilitation following a calf strain. Although he does not require surgery, the power forward cannot resume high-intensity workouts or spend time on the court until the end of the 2025–26 season. His hopes, too, are pinned on the next season.
Edey has also been added to the list of injured players. He recently underwent a procedure for lingering discomfort in his left elbow and is not expected to recover before the 2026–27 season. His time with the Grizzlies this season ended prematurely in March following surgery on his affected ankle.
He didn’t play more than 11 games, averaging 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. In the recent matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, the team was also without Cedric Coward, who sat out due to personal reasons.
With several players sidelined, the Grizzlies lost for the 11th time in 12 games. GG Jackson, Tyler Burton, Ty Jerome, and Walter Clayton Jr. notched 26, 20, 17, and 16 points for their team, shooting 33% from 3-point range. But their combined effort didn’t have a chance against Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 26 points, and seven other Hawks players who scored in double figures.
Last season, the Grizzlies made it to the Western Conference playoffs, but their run was cut short in the early rounds.
