Ja Morant received a standing ovation from Grizzlies fans when he returned to the court Wednesday for the first time following his NBA suspension.
Morant, who didn’t start, entered the game for the first time with three minutes remaining in the first quarter, and he finished with 17 points, five assists, four rebounds, two steals and one block — while playing 24 minutes in the Grizzlies’ 130-125 victory over the Rockets at FedExForum.
“I can’t really put it into words. I’m kind of numb right now,” Morant said. “Thankful to everybody.”
The Commercial Appeal described Morant’s initial entrance as a “loud standing ovation.”
“Obviously, I’m thankful and grateful for everybody who has been supporting me during this time,” Morant said of the reception. “It definitely helped me a lot. Definitely made me feel a little better.
“Eased everything that’s been going on. Felt good to be back. Super excited and glad we were able to get the win.”
According to ESPN, Morant’s father, Tee, and uncle, Phil, both wore customized sweatshirts Wednesday with “REDEMPTION” printed.
Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. who scored a game-high 37 points, knew the ovation would be loud, yet even he was surprised.
“I knew how loud they were going to cheer. I really tracked every time they cheered,” Jackson said. “They cheered when he came out. The people in the top didn’t see him, but then they showed him on the (Jumbotron). …Then he came in and they cheered.”
Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said the decision for Morant to come off the bench was a collaborative one after discussions with Morant and the team’s medical personnel.
The Grizzlies are making sure Morant is building up to game shape. Memphis also went 6-3 during Morant’s absence, contributing to the decision.
“This was something he brought to the table, as well as it’s been on my mind,” Jenkins said before the game. “So, we collectively thought this was the best strategy at least for the first one or two games. Then we will kind of reevaluate after that.”
Morant added in the postgame press conference: “I suggested it because of how well they’ve been playing while I was away,” the guard said of coming off the bench. “I didn’t want to come right back and mess any of that chemistry up.”
Morant hadn’t played since March 3, the game before he appeared to flash a gun while at a strip club during an Instagram Live video.
That came the same week allegations surfaced in a story from The Washington Post — off-court incidents involving a 17-year-old teenager repeatedly punched in the head, with Morant also accused of later returning with a gun visible in his waistband, and a separate one with a mall security officer.
Morant also faced backlash for a 3-point celebration that involved a finger-gun reaction.
His absence from the team started with “at least” two games, the Grizzlies announced the same day of Morant’s strip club video, but that timeline changed when ESPN reported Morant entered a counseling program in Florida and the NBA issued its eight-game suspension — which included the time he’d previously missed.
“Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him. He has expressed sincere remorse for his behavior. Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court.”
Morant was eligible to return for the Grizzlies’ game Monday night.
Before their win, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said Morant coming off the bench “might be the case for a couple of games.”
The Grizzlies, which sit in first place in the Southwest Division, will face the Rockets again Friday night in Memphis.
— with AP
