Ja Morant’s best basketball is behind him, says the former Grizzlies star

As it is Memphis Grizzlies dropped to 4-10 in Saturday night’s 108-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the former Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons raised concerns about the long-term trajectory I Morant‘s career. Speaking on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, Parsons said he believes Morant’s best basketball may be behind him.

Parsons, who played for Memphis from 2016-2019, acknowledged Morant’s talent and competitive fire, but expressed doubt about his viability in a league that is moving further toward perimeter shooting and away from explosive rim-attacking guards.

“I think just the way the game has changed in general,” Parsons said. “I’m not even talking about any distractions or outside noise that he’s gone through. Any of that. I mean just the way the game has changed and the way he plays, his athleticism. Once he loses that, and shooting has never been his strength. . . . I think Ja Morant’s best basketball, I think we’ve seen that before.”

Morant, 26, is averaging 17.9 points, 7.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game this season, his lowest output since his freshman year. His shooting also dropped significantly, hitting just 35.9% from the field and 16.7% from three-point range, both career lows. He is also playing a career-low 28.8 minutes per game through 12 appearances.

On Saturday against Cleveland, Morant had seven points, two assists and a rebound in just six minutes of action before exiting with a right calf injury. He shot 2-for-2 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line before being ejected.

Chandler Parsons questions the future of Ja Morant as the Grizzlies face growing concerns

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday Morant suffered a first-degree right calf deformity and will be reassessed in two weeks.

The injury comes amid ongoing concerns about Morant’s behavior and relationship with the coaching staff. Earlier in the season, he was suspended for one game after making a hit obnoxious postgame comments after losing to the Los Angeles Lakerssaying, “Go ask the coaching staff,” when asked about the team’s performance. He followed that up with a tense media session after the loss to Detroit, answering “no” when asked if he still felt the joy of playing basketball.

Parsons’ comments add to a growing list of questions surrounding Morant’s future in Memphis. While his potential remains, a combination of injuries, public frustration and an evolving game that favors perimeter efficiency could present significant obstacles to his development.

The Grizzlies are in the midst of a four-game road trip and will face the San Antonio Spurs (9–4) on Tuesday night at 8:00 PM ET. The Spurs will be without Victor Wembanyamawho is also out with a calf stretch. Memphis returns home Thursday to host the Sacramento Kings (3–11) at the FedExForum.

As the season progresses, Memphis faces increasing pressure to re-center its identity around Morant or consider alternatives if his performance and availability continue to decline.