Ja Morant is set to return to the NBA after an eight-game suspension over a strip club gun scandal from the BANK tonight, as Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins reveals that role “could be for a couple of days.” games”.
Ja Morant will return to an NBA floor tonight against the Houston Rockets according to Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins.
The 23-year-old said his status was “up in the air” Tuesday, but Jenkins all but confirmed that Morant would be part of the rotation.
Morant will start the game at FedEx Forum on the bench after an extended layoff.
“Obviously we don’t have a lot of time until the end of the regular season, but we want to be smart with that layoff and we’re not doing anything to jeopardize his health,” Jenkins told reporters.
Morant suggested the possibility of playing fewer minutes given his lack of practice and competitive play in recent weeks.
Ja Morant will return to the court in his game uniform tonight after his leave
The Grizzlies’ Twitter account posted a photo of their star on his way to the home locker room.
The All-Star hasn’t played since he was suspended by the league and the Grizzlies, with his last game coming on March 3 against Denver.
“This was something that he brought to the table that had been on my mind,” Jenkins said.
“So collectively we thought this was the best strategy, at least for the first one or two games. And then we’ll reassess after that.’
Morant arrived at the downtown Memphis stadium Wednesday night dressed in an olive green tracksuit and a white T-shirt.
Morant spoke publicly for the first time since his league-imposed eight-game suspension ended Tuesday, describing his current status as an “ongoing process” after 11 days of counseling in Florida during his absence.
“Obviously, I’ve been there for two weeks, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely better. So, that’s an ongoing process for me that I’ve still been going on since I came out.
He denied any suggestion that he has difficulty handling alcohol amid NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s determination that the 23-year-old was in an “intoxicated state” via the league statement.
“I don’t have an alcohol problem, never had an alcohol problem,” Morant said. “I went (to FL.) for counseling to learn how to manage stress, deal with stress in a positive way instead of the ways I’ve tried to deal with it before that caused me to make mistakes.”
Morant, 23, found himself in trouble after flashing a gun at a nightclub on social media in Denver following a Grizzlies win against the Nuggets.
Morant returned to the FedEx Forum Monday night after his highly publicized suspension.
Morant has apologized once again for the incident in which he displayed a gun at a Denver strip club in the hours after a March 3 loss to the Nuggets.
“I’m really sorry about that,” Morant said after practice.
“So, you know, my job now is, like I said, to be more responsible, smarter, and not cause any of that anymore.”
The former No. 2 overall pick’s last professional basketball game was against the Nuggets, on March 3.
