Ja Morant hasn’t been playing up to his usual standards this season. According to a former NBA All-Star, what he needs is to regain his joy for the game, which could be achieved by starting fresh elsewhere.
Ex-NBA All-Star Says Ja Morant Needs a Fresh Start
Just a few seasons ago, even suggesting that Morant should be traded or leave the Memphis Grizzlies was unthinkable. Not only is that now a reality, but the front office is also exploring the idea of moving him.
Morant has not produced the scoring numbers fans are accustomed to, and his efficiency is down. According to former NBA player John Wall, a five-time All-Star with the Washington Wizards, one reason is that Morant is playing without an essential, but often overlooked, element.
“I think he just has to get back to having fun, I think he lost his joy,” Wall said on NBA on Prime. “Probably a fresh start for him would bring that joy in.”
Wall also addressed a more significant factor affecting Morant’s trade value: his health.
“Everybody knows how talented Ja Morant is. The most important thing is being available. In the last couple years, I think he’s played 77 or 78 games. That’s something that teams are probably worried about in trying to make a trade for him.”
John Wall believes Ja Morant needs a fresh start and isn’t playing with “joy” in Memphis
“I think he has to get back to having fun. I think hes lost his joy. Probably a fresh start would bring that joy. Everybody knows how talented Ja Morant is. The important thing is being… pic.twitter.com/1DT7Yr2VKr
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) January 18, 2026
Morant’s availability has been a recurring question since his rookie season. In fact, in his first six seasons in the league, he has never crossed the 70-game threshold.
He played a career-high 67 games in 2019-20 and has appeared in fewer games each season since. In his sophomore year, he played in 63 games. The following season, he suited up for just 57 games, and in his fourth year, he appeared in 61.
In 2023-24, Morant posted a career-low in games played. He opened the season serving a 25-game suspension and later suffered a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery, limiting him to nine games.
He was limited to 50 games last season, and that trend has continued this year. Of the 41 games the Grizzlies have played so far, he has appeared in only 19.
Morant’s efficiency this season and his availability remain a combination of concerns for teams interested in acquiring him. Still, at just 26 years old, there is plenty of basketball left in his career, and he could return to playing at a high level.
