NBA: Ja Morant to return against Rockets

Agence France Presse

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Ja Morant looks to dunk the ball during the 72nd NBA All-Star game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 19 February 2023. George Frey, EPA-EFE' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/03/05/030523_nba-asg-ja-morant_epa.jpg' ><figcaption>Ja Morant looks to dunk the ball during the 72nd NBA All-Star game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 19 February 2023. George Frey, EPA-EFE</figcaption></figure></div>LOS ANGELES, United States - Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins confirmed that Ja Morant will make his NBA return from suspension against the Houston Rockets later on Wednesday.Jenkins told reporters in pre-game remarks that Morant -- who has not played since posting video of himself waving a gun in a strip club on March 4 -- would start on the bench.<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/16/23/nba-ja-morant-banned-for-8-games-for-gun-in-nightclub'>NBA: Grizzlies' Morant banned for 8 games for gun in nightclub</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/14/23/nba-ja-morant-enters-counseling-program'>NBA: Ja Morant enters counseling program</a></li></ul>"That might be the case for a couple of games, this was a collaborative effort," Jenkins said of the decision to put Morant on the bench."We collectively thought this was the best strategy at least for the first one or two games, then we'll re-evaluate from there.Jenkins said he expected Morant's on-court minutes against Houston to be "somewhere in the low 20s.""We'll see how the game goes. He hasn't had a lot of five-on-five exposure, so we want to be smart for the first week or two that with the layoff we're not doing anything to jeopardise his health," Jenkins said.Morant was hit with an eight-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the NBA after footage of the strip club incident emerged. The 23-year-old -- regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the NBA -- later said he had begun therapy to help manage stress.Morant told reporters on Tuesday his treatment was an "ongoing process.""I've made mistakes in the past that cause a lot of negative attention -- not only to me, but my family as well, my team, the organization," Morant said."I'm completely sorry for that... My job now is to be more responsible, more smarter, and don't cause any of that no more."rcw/js© Agence France-Presse

"That might be the case for a couple of games, this was a collaborative effort," Jenkins said of the decision to put Morant on the bench."We collectively thought this was the best strategy at least for the first one or two games, then we'll re-evaluate from there.Jenkins said he expected Morant's on-court minutes against Houston to be "somewhere in the low 20s.""We'll see how the game goes. He hasn't had a lot of five-on-five exposure, so we want to be smart for the first week or two that with the layoff we're not doing anything to jeopardise his health," Jenkins said.Morant was hit with an eight-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the NBA after footage of the strip club incident emerged. The 23-year-old -- regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the NBA -- later said he had begun therapy to help manage stress.Morant told reporters on Tuesday his treatment was an "ongoing process.""I've made mistakes in the past that cause a lot of negative attention -- not only to me, but my family as well, my team, the organization," Morant said."I'm completely sorry for that... My job now is to be more responsible, more smarter, and don't cause any of that no more."rcw/js© Agence France-Presse

Jenkins told reporters in pre-game remarks that Morant -- who has not played since posting video of himself waving a gun in a strip club on March 4 -- would start on the bench.<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/16/23/nba-ja-morant-banned-for-8-games-for-gun-in-nightclub'>NBA: Grizzlies' Morant banned for 8 games for gun in nightclub</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/14/23/nba-ja-morant-enters-counseling-program'>NBA: Ja Morant enters counseling program</a></li></ul>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Ja Morant looks to dunk the ball during the 72nd NBA All-Star game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 19 February 2023. George Frey, EPA-EFE' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/03/05/030523_nba-asg-ja-morant_epa.jpg' ><figcaption>Ja Morant looks to dunk the ball during the 72nd NBA All-Star game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 19 February 2023. George Frey, EPA-EFE</figcaption></figure></div>LOS ANGELES, United States - Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins confirmed that Ja Morant will make his NBA return from suspension against the Houston Rockets later on Wednesday.

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins confirmed that Ja Morant will make his NBA return from suspension against the Houston Rockets later on Wednesday.

NBA: Ja Morant to return against Rockets | ABS-CBN News

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NBA: Ja Morant to return against Rockets

NBA: Ja Morant to return against Rockets