The wait is finally over. The high-flying guard and franchise cornerstone of the Memphis Grizzlies, Ja Morant, is set to make his long-awaited return following his twenty-five-game suspension. The Memphis team is in dire need of their point guard’s presence and his best mental and physical performance on the court.
Morant was required by the NBA to “fulfill a program that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior.” Morant was caught on camera flashing a gun on social media two weeks after being eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in last year’s NBA playoffs. Morant has undergone counseling and is also fighting a civil lawsuit unrelated to his NBA suspension.
He was asked about the impact that therapy had on him during his interview. He expressed that it was a moment of enlightenment for him, and it provided him with a fresh outlook on life. He said, “It helped me comprehend how I should lead my life, appreciate what I have, and be grateful for it. I am still here, and I am in a good position, and I should be thankful for that.” It was a mature response from someone who had ample time to reflect on how he would recover and reinvent himself into the man he aspires to be. “It’s still a process,” the All-Star Guard told the media. “I’m not done learning about myself, but I surely understand why the things that occurred, happened.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Ja Morant have established a level of trust. Everyone is eagerly anticipating Morant’s first game back against his friend, the number one overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson, and his team, the New Orleans Pelicans. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, and it promises to be an exciting, high-flying, and gritty match.
