Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, center, is caught with the ball between Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15), guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and forward Aaron Gordon (50) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 3, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Ja Morant Set to Return From Suspension

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is returning to action after serving an eight-game suspension with no pay. The suspension was enforced by the NBA in response to Morant flashing a gun on his Instagram Live while attending a nightclub. Morant spent some time in a counseling program in Florida to reportedly work on managing stress and to take some time away from the team. His earliest possible return to action could be Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets.

Grizzlies Minus Morant

In the midst of Ja’s short absence, the Grizzlies went 5-3 and currently hold the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. This is a team full of young talent that is capable of making a deep playoff push to the NBA finals. On any given night, they have young players who are capable of putting up huge offensive performances.

Jaren Jackson Jr. has scored 25+ points in the last four games and is shooting just above 60% from the field. Desmond Bane is another young star who has risen up to the challenge. He’s averaging 21 points per game and is shooting 40% from beyond the arc. The combination of these two young stars with Ja, once he returns, is scary to other Western Conference contenders.

Ja’s All-Star Season

Before the social media incident, Morant was having a terrific season. He was named an all-star game starter and led his team to the top of the league. He is averaging 27 points per game, which ranks Top 10 in the NBA. Additionally, his 8.2 assists per game rank him sixth in the league.

Ja is one of the league’s brightest young talents. Grizzlies fans are eager to see him return to action assuming he learned from his mistake. With only a few weeks remaining until the playoffs begin, it is imperative that the Grizzlies incorporate Morant into the lineup to close out the regular season.

About Daniel Haviv

Hello, my name is Daniel Haviv and I'm a junior sports journalism student at the University of Florida. As a sports writer, I have published content on a multitude of different sports across all levels. Additionally, I was a beat reporter for the Gators Men's Basketball team for the 2022-2023 season. Game-day previews and post-game articles are featured.

Check Also

Former Florida Basketball Player Canyon Barry Heading To Olympics

Former Gators men’s basketball guard Canyon Barry is heading to Paris to play in the Olympics. …