NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 19: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on while playing the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on December 19, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Ja Morant took to the basketball court on Dec. 19 with his Grizzles teammates like he never stopped playing! However, as previously reported, Tuesday’s game was his first since the NBA suspended him earlier this year.
Morant was forced to sit out 25 games, but he seemingly gave it his all in his first one back. Ultimately, the 24-year-old ended his comeback by scoring the winning shot with just seconds left on the buzzer.
According to ESPN, Ja Morant scored 34 points in the 115-113 game between the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans. Twenty-seven of those points came in the second half. The outlet reports that Morant struggled with “his wind” but bounced back using an inhaler in the third and fourth quarter for an oxygen boost. He also reportedly used a massage gun on his calves at some point due to a creeping cramp.
After the game-winning basket, Morant’s teammates rushed him joyfully on the court. Watch below.
Before Tuesday, Ja Morant hadn’t touched an NBA court on game day in eight months. His last competitive play was in Game 6 of the NBA playoffs first-round in April.
The NBA benched in June after two incidents that reportedly violated their league policies. On Mar. 4, he was seen flashing a gun while in a Colorado strip club. In response, he was suspended for eight games and underwent required therapy. In an ESPN interview, he also took “full responsibility” for his “bad decisions” but denied owning the weapon shown.
Then, in May, the Grizzlies suspended him from “all team activities” after he was seen flashing a gun on Instagram Live for the second time. The league added to those consequences in June. It prohibited Ja Morant from touching the court in the first 25 games of the 2023-2024 regular season.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended the league’s decision in their announcement.
“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting… The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.”
Ja Morant — once again — apologized following the second suspension, pledging to be a “better representation” as a role model and brand ambassador.
On Tuesday night, he called the team’s W the “perfect ending” to a “perfect day.”
“Obviously, I’ve been working hard, but it’s nothing like NBA basketball, so that’s pretty much just doing the inhaler to try to get more oxygen in the body to be able to go out there and deliver,” Morant said. “When I got back in at that eight-minute mark, they pretty much told me, ‘You’re not coming out.’ I just had to lock in and just push through. [That is] pretty much my life — just continuing to push no matter what,” Morant said, per ESPN.
Swipe below to see his comments.
Morant’s sister also chimed in on her brother’s win. Taking to social media, she said she “loved” hearing people “talk so much” to her about Ja Morant because now she can respond, “he’s him.” Ja Morant’s people, including his father and best friend, were also in the building during his game-winning shot.
