Memphis Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said Saturday that there’s a “good chance” star guard Ja Morant will return from a calf injury to play against the Orlando Magic in London.
Ja Morant Missed NBA Game In Germany
Morant, 26, missed the first of the two-game NBA Europe series when the Magic defeated the Grizzlies 118-111 in the league’s first regular-season game in Germany.
The teams face off Sunday at the O2 Arena on the Greenwich Peninsula in southeast London.
Ja Morant is taking part in Memphis Grizzlies practice ahead of NBA London pic.twitter.com/xs2h8QS5ak
— James Plowright (@British_Buzz) January 17, 2026
“There’s a good chance he plays. He went through the full practice today, and now we’ve just got to see how his body responds in the morning,” Iisalo said. “There’s obviously no guarantees and he’s got to feel comfortable with how the calf feels.”
While in Berlin, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he was disappointed that Morant couldn’t play because the two-time All-Star “has a tremendous following globally,” per The Associated Press.
Morant Has Been Sidelined With A Calf Injury
Morant has been available for just 18 games this season due to a Grade 1 right calf strain.
The former first-rounder is averaging career lows in points (19.0) and rebounds (3.2) while shooting just 40.1% from the field and 20.8% from 3-point range.
Per Spotrac, Morant is earning $39.5 million this season and is in the third year of a five-year, $197.2 million contract. He’s slated to earn $42.16 million in 2026-27 and $44.88 million in 2027-28.
Morant has negative trade value due to injuries and suspensions, as the Grizzlies star hasn’t appeared in more than 61 games in any of the past four seasons, according to Basketball Reference.
Grizzlies Expected To Trade Ja Morant
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported last Friday that Memphis was entertaining trade offers involving Morant and is expected to move the seven-year veteran prior to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat have shown interest in acquiring Morant, according to multiple league sources.
Per Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko, shortly after the Heat “emerged as an attractive option to Morant and his camp” as a potential trade destination, it was reported that Morant had purchased a $3.2 million home in Miami-Dade County on Dec. 23.
The house Morant purchased in December is approximately four miles away from the Kaseya Center, the Heat’s home arena, according to Finto and Cole.
Until this week, the Wolves and Kings were viewed as the top suitors for Morant.
