Ja Morant seemed to reignite his career in his first four games with the Trail Blazers, making his left‑hamstring injury on Thursday especially untimely, reports Bill Oram of The Oregonian. He’ll miss at least four weeks before a re‑evaluation.
Oram warns the loss could stall early‑season momentum for both Morant and the squad. His Memphis stint ended amid injuries, off‑court drama and coaching clashes, yet he fit in seamlessly after Portland traded for him this summer. He posted 16.3 points and 6.3 assists in his first three outings, as the Blazers won each game.
“He sees a strong roster with plenty of offensive talent, so he doesn’t have to carry everything,” coach Micah Nori said. Nori expected a smooth adjustment and was pleasantly surprised by the ease of Morant’s fit.
The upside is Morant avoids surgery and could return by late November. For my money, the Blazers’ depth will carry them through his absence. Still, a serious setback so early raises durability concerns that might derail the season.
Further updates from Portland:
- Scoot Henderson stepped into Morant’s spot in the Saturday Utah start, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Freeman notes Nori kept Jrue Holiday with the second unit to resist the urge of handing extra minutes to Holiday or veteran guard Damian Lillard, who is 36. Henderson, a restricted‑free‑agent candidate, logged 14 points, three rebounds, three steals and four turnovers in 31 minutes. The former No. 3 overall pick earned “training camp MVP” honors and now aims to boost his market value before next summer’s contract talks.
- Deni Avdija may have been eclipsed by offseason buzz, but he remains the franchise’s cornerstone, Freeman adds. With Lillard and Morant sharing backcourt duties, Avdija now enjoys more space and has posted a marked jump in offensive efficiency early this season.
- Vit Krejci saw his role swell while Morant rested, logging a season‑high 24 minutes on Saturday, observes Sahal Arwo of SI. The 26‑year‑old guard entered the rotation after a February trade from Atlanta, though his minutes have been limited so far. Will his expanded minutes translate into a breakout performance?