Ja Morant Expected Back for Grizzlies Wednesday, Jenkins Says
With the regular season drawing to a close, the Grizzlies may soon have the services of their star point guard once again.
Memphis expects guard Ja Morant to return Wednesday evening against the Rockets, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters Tuesday afternoon.
Morant has been out since March 3, when he scored 27 points in a 113–97 loss to the Nuggets and appeared to flash a gun in a nightclub after the game on Instagram Live. The incident earned Morant an audience with commissioner Adam Silver and an eight-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the league.
Days before his actions in Glendale, Colo., an article in The Washington Post drew attention to a previous police report in which Morant was accused of emerging from his home with his hand on a gun in his waistband after an altercation with a teenager during a pickup game.
Morant apologized for his behavior and sought counseling in Florida. Eligible to play Monday for the first time since his absence, he watched the Grizzlies defeat the Mavericks 112–108 at home to move to 44–27 on the year.
On Tuesday, Morant referred to his status for the Houston game as "up in the air." The two-time All-Star is averaging 27.1 points per game for Memphis this season.
