Dr. Kharrazi asked about Grizzlies’ star refrain from dunking as a precaution.
Article Link: Is Ja Morant done dunking? Grizzlies teammates, doctor weigh in
Ja Morant said he isn’t dunking anymore. Doctor, Grizzlies teammates weigh in on star’s decision
Ja Morant announced a drastic shift in his career.
With a contingent of Memphis media members standing around the Grizzlies star, Morant stated that he wasn’t dunking anymore after a Nov. 25 win against the Portland Trail Blazers that included an alley-oop throw down.
Media members laughed.
“Y’all laughing?” Morant said. “l’m (going to) be just as surprised as y’all if I dunk.”
The timing of Morant’s declaration was notable. That matchup against the Blazers was Morant’s first game back after a hip injury he suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers while attempting to catch an alley-oop pass.
Morant held true to his word until a Grizzlies win against the Boston Celtics. The Memphis star double-pumped, threw down a backwards dunk and electrified the TD Garden crowd. In that instance, Morant said he felt like dunking was his only option with 7-foot-2 Kristaps Porzingis standing between him and the basket. So maybe Morant will dunk from time to time, but his decision is centered around making sure he is healthier in his career.
“There isn’t any literature on it per se, but obviously your hand, wrist and forearm are pretty much involved when you dunk,” Daniel Kharazzi, a former 17-year orthopedic consultant to the Los Angeles Lakers, said in a phone call with The Commercial Appeal. “Most of it has to do with contact with the rim and stuff like that.” 
Kharrazi has seen a plethora of different injuries in his career as an NBA orthopedic consultant. Wrist, hand and shoulder injuries are included in that. There was also one elbow injury mixed in when a Los Angeles Sparks player dislocated her elbow while being hit in the air. “Those freak things can happen,” Kharrazi said. “There is some validity to avoiding dangerous positions, so you don’t land awkwardly and injure things.”
In Kharrazi’s career, he has never heard an NBA team or player be advised to dunk less. The closest example that comes to mind is when players are returning from contact injuries where they maybe shouldn’t put their shoulder or elbows in vulnerable positions.
Read the full article here.
