Should the Trail Blazers be worried about Ja Morant’s latest injury?

Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant will miss at least four weeks after suffering a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, the team announced. The injury occurred during Thursday night's loss to his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, where he scored 14 points in 23 minutes. Morant had made a strong start to his Portland tenure, averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 assists across his first four games.

Angel Nakamura writes that the Trail Blazers should be concerned primarily about Morant's long-term availability rather than the immediate absence. The writer notes that after Morant was limited to just 20 games in the 2025-26 season due to an elbow sprain, Portland must exercise caution and avoid rushing his return.