.jpg "Morant scored 17 points off the bench in his return for the Grizzlies on Wednesday night. Brandon Dill/AP")
Ja Morant made a grand re-entry to the Memphis Grizzlies' game against Houston on Wednesday, with the protective face mask on and the cutoff T-shirt off, marking his return after 18 days of exile and suspension for exhibiting a gun at a Denver nightclub. Fans wearing dark-blue Morant jerseys filled the arena, and posters saying WELCOME BACK JA were present in the lower bowl. Tee Morant, Ja's father, was seen courtside sporting a hoodie with his son's picture and the word REDEMPTION.
While the moment appeared scripted, so did every aspect of Ja Morant's return. From the PR-crafted statement to the brief stay at a counseling program in Florida and the friendly interview with a former player, he navigated the crisis playbook flawlessly. Although no one diminishes the importance of potential mental health concerns, Morant appears to have handled the situation adeptly.
Against Houston, Morant came off the bench as a decision he made so as not to disrupt the team's current chemistry, as the Grizzlies have gone 6-3 without him. The local broadcast labeled it as "leadership," though it's worth noting that Memphis went 20-5 last season without Morant. Additionally, he started every game he played in.
Ja Morant's return to the floor was quintessentially Morant, as he stepped up when Memphis needed a big play. He threw a lob pass to Jaren Jackson Jr, blocked Tari Eason's layup attempt at the rim, and dove into the crowd after a loose ball, finishing with a layup through contact moments later. He scored 17 points in 24 minutes and took a charge from Alperen Şengün in the closing minutes to secure a 130-125 win. "Vintage Ja Morant," remarked ex-Grizzly Brevin Knight during the broadcast.
Morant expressed his happiness at being back and claimed to have moved past the nightclub incident, hoping everyone else will too. He has addressed the issue in a statement, a television interview, and a Q&A session with local reporters on Tuesday. When asked about changes he needed to make, Morant stated that he needed to be more responsible, having noticed his stress levels becoming problematic before the incident in Denver. Over the past few weeks, his only focus has been on getting into a better mental space. "I'm always going to be Ja. I won't change for anybody," he said, adding that counseling helped him learn many things.
At times, Morant's tone was defensive as he brushed aside questions about alcohol, denying having an alcohol problem. He reiterated that he did not condone violence and had no discussions about guns with people in his inner circle. When asked about previously reported incidents, Morant took responsibility for his role but maintained that he had not done anything wrong.
Only Ja Morant can truly know whether his time away has changed him. Since returning to the team, Morant has expressed feeling uncomfortable. He experienced these emotions during Monday's game against Dallas while watching from the bench, as well as on Tuesday, when he stated his playing status was uncertain. Before Wednesday's game, Morant spent time with his daughter, Kaari, talked to himself, and meditated to get in the right mindset.
Morant acknowledges that it's still an ongoing process for him to get comfortable with everything. However, it's clear that the Grizzlies need him on the court. The team has played well without him in the past, but without their All-Star playmaker, they likely won't be able to win the conference. Regular-season success is fun, but stars are needed to win championships in the NBA. With Morant, Memphis is a contender.
Looking around the Western Conference, Morant-led Grizzlies don't have any teams to fear. Denver is struggling, the Clippers just lost Paul George for the rest of the regular season, Kevin Durant is out with another injury in Phoenix, and Golden State can't win on the road. The Grizzlies have a great opportunity, and Morant wants to take advantage of it. The redemption hoodies that his family came up with represent a second chance for Morant, who is beloved in Memphis. After the game, he closed his hands in the shape of a heart as he ran off the floor.
Morant is determined to show the world who he is as a person and as a player. The Grizzlies' season appeared to be in jeopardy when he left the team nearly three weeks ago, but with him back, they have a chance to turn it around.
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