Understanding Ja Morant’s AC Sprain

• Post By: Jeff Stotts
• Date: December 28, 2024
• Category: NBA, Understanding...

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is once again managing an injury to his right shoulder following a collision in Friday’s game. Fortunately, reports Saturday indicate the injury occurred to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint of his shoulder and NOT his surgically repaired glenohumeral (GH) joint.

Most people consider the shoulder to be the GH joint, the ball-and-socket joint of the area. Injuries here vary from sprains and strains to subluxations or dislocations. Last year Morant subluxed his shoulder, tearing the glenoid labrum in the process. He underwent surgery and missed the final 47 games of the season.

His latest injury involves the AC joint, the articulation formed where the clavicle (collarbone) connects to a bony process on the shoulder blade known as the acromion. The AC joint serves as a strut, helping raise the arm overhead. It is fortified by two ligaments, the acromioclavicular (AC) and coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments. 

While most sprains are graded based on severity, injuries to the AC joint have their own grading scale. Each classification is based on the amount of damage to the involved ligaments and neighboring soft tissue structures. A Type 1 sprain is considered minor and involves low-grade sprains of the ligaments. A more severe Type 2 designation is noted when the AC ligament tears, but minimal CC ligament damage has occurred. A Type 3 injury denotes a rupture of both ligaments with upward displacement of the collarbone. The final three classifications are considered severe and are dependent on the degree of movement of the collarbone and the damage done to the surrounding musculature. AC joint injuries are often referred to as a separated shoulder.

Historically, the majority of these injuries result in missed time with the average time lost for nondescript or low-grade in-season AC sprains at 12.4 days (~4.3 games). Players to sustain AC sprains include Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, and Trae Young. Morant is the sixth player to suffer an AC sprain since the start of preseason, joining a list that includes RJ Barrett and Zach LaVine.

The Grizzlies have yet to specify the severity of Morant’s injury though a low-grade would be a best-case scenario. AC sprains with Grade 2 classifications or higher result in considerably more missed time (~31 days, 15 games).

For now Memphis will navigate the immediate future without Morant as well as Marcus Smart, out at least the next two weeks with a index finger injury, and forward Santi Aldama who is considered week-to-week with an ankle sprain.