Ja Morant is going to be back from ban soon and can play in the Grizzlies-Pelicans game.
Ja Morant, a star player for the Memphis Grizzlies, was banned for 25 games because of his actions on social media with guns. His ban finished on Tuesday, so he can play for the Pelicans in New Orleans.
Memphis’s coach Taylor Jenkins said on Friday before their last home game, “He’s been great when he hasn’t been able to play.”
“He’s used every chance to be in his friends. He’s been spending a lot of time with his friends doing things off the court.
Morant could train, travel, and take part in daily shootarounds with the Grizzlies while he was suspended. But the team wouldn’t let him be in the field during games.
Jenkins said his two-time NBA All-Star is practicing more and more over the last few weeks. While the team plays, Morant is also videochatting with them.
“He looks like he’s doing great. Jenkins said, “He’s done really well in the 5-on-5s over the last number of days.”
“For the past few months, he’s been getting ready for this.” He’s put a lot of work into making his body stronger and more fit, and he’s really pleased with the results.
Morant talked to reporters to feed the first time during the year on Friday. He said he’s been counting lower the days until he could go back to his team and that he’s glad to still be in the league.
He has been banned for 33 games since March 4, when he was caught brandishing a gun on a social media video. He was the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft, the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year, and the 2022 Most Improved Player.
Morant first told media that he needed to make better choices after the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated Memphis out of the playoffs in April.
He knew that problems off the court had hurt the Grizzlies’ season. The playoff run of a team that got the second-seed spot in the conference’s western division for the second year in a row was short—six games.
After only two weeks, Morant was caught holding a gun over a livestream video while singing with friends. Silver thought about what was going on and told Morant about the second ban and other steps he needed to take.
With a few seconds left, Morant was facing off against Herbert Jones, who was the Pelicans’ best defense. Morant turned his way to the basket and got the ball to bounce over Jones. Dyson Daniels’ defense came too late to help, though.
While playing for 35 minutes, Morant had an amazing game. He scored 34 points on 12 of 24 shots, had eight assists, six boards, two steals, and a block. Five of his three-point shots missed, but he made 10 of 12 free throws.
The Grizzlies were behind by 24 points after being beaten 39-16 in the second quarter. Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans via 34 points on 11 of 18 shooting.
Zion Williamson only played for 25 minutes, but he scored 13 points (5 of 12 shooting) and had four assists and three boards.
When Morant was caught flashing a gun in a social media livestream for the first time on March 4, he was banned for 33 games.
Morant was the No. 2 overall pick within 2019 and was named Rookie of the Year. A few weeks later, he did it again, which led to the long ban.
In May, two weeks after Memphis lost in the first round of the playoffs, Morant showed a gun in an Instagram Live video.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver banned Morant for 25 games because of this. When he wasn’t there, the Grizzlies went 6–19. Last season, Morant missed eight games because of a similar episode in March.
Last season, Morant came off the bench right away after his ban, but things were very different then.
The Grizzlies went 6-3 in the games the missed, including one for fitness reasons after his ban was over. Starting point guard Tyus Jones did a good job as a fill-in.
The Grizzlies’ offense is the worst in the league. They only score 105.9 points per 100 plays when Morant isn’t playing. Last season, Morant led Memphis with 26.2 points and 8.1 assists per game.