What impact will Ja Morant’s NBA return have on the league?

By Ethan Barlow

Ja Morant is set to return to the court this week (Image: Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies point guard will make his highly anticipated NBA return on Tuesday (19 December) when he is available for selection at the New Orleans Pelicans for the first time this season. The 2019 number two draft pick was slapped with a 25-match suspension after he posted Instagram stories displaying a firearm back in May.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver was the main influence behind the decision to hand Morant his second suspension after he was first banned from playing for eight matches after displaying a firearm, two months prior to his second offence.

The NBA commissioner has been outspoken against Morant (Image: Getty Images)

Silver said: “Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games.

“The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behaviour with guns will not be tolerated.”

Morant has been one of the league’s rising stars, since joining the league back in 2019: He has played in two All-Star games, won the Rookie of the Year award and has also picked up the Most Improved Player Award. There is no doubt about Morant’s talent, but as a young role model in the league, these types of off-court actions needed to be dealt with and hopefully after Morant has now met the requirements set to make his return to the league, he’ll leave this kind of stuff in the past and become the best player he can be.

After being suspended, Morant released an apology, he said: “I’ve had time to reflect and realise how much hurt I’ve caused. I want to apologise to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis… I’m spending the off-season and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision making.

“I’m also going to be training so that I’m ready to go when I can be back on the court… I hope you’ll give me the chance to prove to you over time I’m a better man than what I’ve been showing.”

Despite being banned from matches, the 24-year-old was still permitted to train with the Grizzlies throughout his suspension despite missing out on the $7.5m he would have been paid during the time of his suspension.

Morant is one of not just the most talented players in the league but entertaining. Almost every time he steps on the court it’s unmissable content. He is one the most athletic players in the league, his tricky dribbling along with his unbelievable spring makes him an elite dunker, and standing at just six foot and two inches, some of his posters and backboard blocks are incredible.

This Grizzlies team, which Morant will return to is nothing like the one he left behind when they were eliminated from the first round of last season's play-offs by the LA Lakers. In the last campaign, the Memphis side picked up 51 wins in the regular season and finished off as second seed behind the NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets. Morant’s confidence in himself and his team last season ultimately came back to bite him as he infamously said: “I’m fine in the West” before they were knocked out of the second round of competition at the first chance.

This season the Grizzlies are definitely not “fine in the West” as they have started the season, picking up just six wins from the first 25 without their showman. To put that into perspective, they had won 16 of their opening 25 last campaign, which would have them at third seed in the Western Conference, whereas they currently sit at 13th seed with only the Portland Trailblazers and the San Antonio Spurs below them. To reach last season's 51-win tally they would have to win 45 of their last 57, which for this team is almost impossible. Morant isn’t the only piece of the Grizzlies 51-31 team missing this campaign, as 60% of their most common starting five haven't been available this season so far: The 2020-drafted shooting guard, Desmond Bane has been impressive for the Grizzlies this campaign building on his success from last season.  Last season’s Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr. hasn’t been as consistent, as the “Block Panther” has averaged almost half the amount of blocks per game he averaged last season. These two players are the only Grizzlies to average over 12.5 points this season, so it is no surprise to see the Grizzlies have the lowest average points per game for any team this season. The other two players that have been missing along with Morant are injured New Zealand veteran, Steven Adams, who has been forced to undergo surgery which will see him out of action until next season, and Dillon Brooks who has joined the Houston Rockets after the Grizzlies didn’t want to match the terms of their contract.

Morant’s absence hasn’t been the only reason for the downfall of the Grizzlies, but it will certainly help a possible push for the play-ins, with still well over half of the season to be played. Even if Morant can’t help his team to the knockout rounds of this season's championship, seeing him play 50 or more matches is something the majority of fans have waited 25 games to see.

If you want to catch Morant’s return live, TNT Sports and the NBA app will be showing Tuesday’s opening game, which starts at 00:30 on Wednesday morning in the UK.