On Sunday afternoon, the Grizzlies and Magic were on the road for a game in London, England. It was the second meeting between Memphis and Orlando in an international series.
It was also the return of all-star PG Ja Morant. He had missed their previous six games due to a right calf injury. In his return, Morant was dominant for the Grizzlies. The 26-year-old had 24 points, five rebounds, 13 assists, and one steal in a 126-109 win. After the game, Ja Morant spoke with NBA insider Marc Stein. Morant told him that he’s “a very loyal guy” and that he wants to stay with Memphis.
Will the Grizzlies retain Ja Morant past the 2025-26 trade deadline?
Ja Morant Says He's Loyal, Wants To Stay With Grizzlies https://t.co/NQGKikoBkk
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 19, 2026
The 2025-26 season has been an uphill battle for Ja Morant and the Grizzlies. He’s played in 19 of the team’s 41 games in 2025-26. Morant has missed time due to various injuries. Before he returned on Sunday for Memphis, Morant was out six consecutive games due to a right calf injury. Additionally, there has been some off-court trouble that Morant and the team have had to handle. Earlier in the year, Morant had a verbal dispute with head coach Tuomas Iisalo. Eventually, Morant was suspended for two games for conduct detrimental to the team.
That’s not the only verbal dispute Morant has had this season. Just last week, reporters caught a lengthy altercation between Ja Morant and teammate Vince Williams Jr. This has led to trade speculation for the all-star PG. Additionally, it’s been reported that the Grizzlies are entertaining trade offers for Morant ahead of the trade deadline in 2025-26.
Ja Morant says the Grizzlies tattoo on his back ‘should tell you exactly where I want to be’:
“If anybody here knows me… I’m a very loyal guy.”
(via @TheSteinLine) pic.twitter.com/zixJwpUGKf
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 18, 2026
Despite the trade rumors surrounding Morant, wants to remain with Memphis. After the Grizzlies’ win vs. the Magic on Sunday, Ja Morant spoke with NBA insider Marc Stein. The all-star PG said, “If anybody in here knows me — I’m a very loyal guy.” On top of that, Morant mentioned that he has the team’s logo tattooed on his back.
It has been a hectic year for Ja Morant, to say the least. Injuries and off-court issues have led to a ton of drama. For now, Morant is a member of the Grizzlies. The team has said they will listen to trade offers ahead of the deadline. However, the market for Morant might not be what Memphis was hoping. He still has two full seasons left on his current contract after the 2025-26 season. Morant is owed $42 million starting next year.
