In a rare chat with the media this week, Grizzlies star Ja Morant opened up on the status of his injury recovery. It was a shoulder injury that cut his season short in the winter and now he says he’s nearly ready for a full return to form next season.
“I’m really fully [ready] to go, it’s just building endurance now. So if I had to pick a number, I’d say probably 75%, and I feel like that’s still scary for whoever’s in front of me.”
Ja Morant was asked by @TheAdamBWells about his health.
"If I had to pick a number I'd say probably 75%, and I feel like that's still scary for whoever's in front of me"
Morant is in Murray hosting a camp ahead of his HOF Induction. More to come tonight at 6 & 10 on @WPSDLocal6 pic.twitter.com/at06SZcC34
— Logan Whaley (@LoganWhaleyWPSD) July 25, 2024
Morant, 24, was drafted 2nd overall by the Grizzlies in 2019. After winning Rookie of the Year for his impressive inaugural campaign, Ja ascended into stardom for his relentless drive and ridiculous athleticism. In the 2022-23 season, arguably his best as a pro, he was among the best point guards in the game with averages of 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game on 46.6% shooting.
Things took a wild turn for Morant when he got caught up in a gun scandal that destroyed his reputation. For brandishing his firearm on Instagram Live, Morant was crushed and flamed by critics online. The NBA eventually had to step in when Ja was caught with a gun for the second time, waving it around like a toy for the camera.
Between those incidents and wild accusations of violence, Morant was ostracized from the NBA community and he had to serve a 25-game suspension before he was allowed back into the fold. While Morant did eventually return last season, it was a short-lived comeback after he injured his shoulder and was shut down for the season.
The Grizzlies faltered in his absence and failed to establish an identity on either end of the floor. Eventually, they were forgotten completely and left to finish near the bottom of the standings.
But with Ja laying low and preparing his body, he’s setting the stage for a major comeback and it could take the Grizzlies back to a state of contention in the West.
As one of the league’s premier point guards and finishers around the rim, Morant’s return will electrify the league and it will put the Grizzlies back on the map. Morant along with defensive star Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane will, at the very least, make the Grizzlies competitive again and on par with other elites like the Nuggets, Mavericks, Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City Thunder. The acquisition of Marcus Smart should provide a boost off the bench and will give them an answer on defense against some of the West’s top point guards.
While much has changed in the West, and for the Grizzlies in particular, they still have the same core that won 51 games a few years ago when they looked like a potential championship-level team.
After all that Morant has been through, he has a lot to prove before anyone will give him or his Grizzlies the benefit of the doubt but he seems ready for the challenge and is getting stronger by the day.
Of course, the biggest key for Ja is not changing his play on the court but rather changing his behavior behind the scenes so that he can avoid any more trouble and maintain his image as a role model for the community.
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