Ja Morant will return to the NBA tonight after an eight-game suspension over a strip club gun scandal — as Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins reveals that role “could be for a couple of games.”
Ja Morant will return to an NBA floor against the Houston Rockets tonight, according to Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins.
The 23-year-old said his status was “up in the air” on Tuesday, but Jenkins all but confirmed Morant would be part of the rotation.
Morant will start the game on the FedEx Forum from the bench after an extended hiatus.
“Obviously we don’t have a long runway until the end of the regular season, but we want to be wise with this layoff that we’re not doing anything to jeopardize his health,” Jenkins told reporters.
Morant suggested the possibility of playing shortened minutes given his lack of competitive practice and play in recent weeks.
Ja Morant will return to the pitch in his playing attire tonight following his leave of absence
The Grizzlies’ Twitter account posted a photo of its star making his way to the house dressing room
The All-Star has not played since being suspended by the league and the Grizzlies, his last game coming up on March 3 against Denver.
“That was something he brought to the table and was also in my mind,” Jenkins said.
“So together we thought that’s the best strategy, at least for the first game or two. And after that we’ll kind of reevaluate.’
Morant arrived at the arena in downtown Memphis on Wednesday night in an olive tracksuit and white T-shirt.
Morant spoke publicly for the first time since completing his eight-game league suspension on Tuesday, and described his current condition as “an ongoing process” after 11 days of counseling in Florida while he was away.
“Of course I’ve been there for two weeks, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely better. So this is an ongoing process for me that I’m still continuing since I came out.
He denied any suggestion that he had any difficulty handling alcohol, as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted in the league’s statement that the 23-year-old was in a “intoxicated state.”
“I don’t have a drinking problem, never had a drinking problem,” Morant said. ‘I walked [to FL.] for a consultation on learning how to deal with stress, deal with stress in positive ways, rather than ways I’ve tried before to deal with it, which has resulted in me making mistakes.’
Morant, 23, got into trouble after pulling a gun after a Grizzlies win over the Nuggets at a Denver nightclub on social media
Morant returned to the FedEx Forum Monday night following his widely publicized suspension
Morant apologized again for the incident in which he pointed a gun at a Denver strip club in the hours following a March 3 loss to the Nuggets.
“I’m very sorry,” Morant said after practice.
“So, you know, my job now, like I said, is to be more responsible and smarter and stop causing all of that.”
The former No. 2 overall’s last professional basketball game was on March 3 against the Nuggets