Ja Morant has made a triumphant return to the court. However, his off-court activities might still haunt him despite coming back to action. In March, the 24-year-old was suspended after an Instagram live video of the young guard showing a firearm surfaced. He then spent some time at a counseling facility in Florida. Despite the stern warning, Morant was once again seen posing with a handgun in a car. Following this, the league suspended him for 25 games. He then returned to the Grizzlies lineup on December 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
However, his 25-game suspension might have long-term implications, as the two-time All-Star guard is ineligible for end-of-season awards due to the ban, per NBA rules.
Ja Morant is not eligible for end-of-season accolades
Due to a new agreement between the NBAPA and NBA, ratified in April, a player needs to appear in at least 65 games for 20 minutes per game to be eligible for the MVP, any All-NBA teams, or other awards. Since Morant will only be able to play 57 games due to the ban, he will not be an option on the ballot for first-team, second-team, or third-team All-NBA, nor the MVP. Furthermore, the hyperathletic guard is also ineligible for Most Improved Player or Defensive Player of the Year honors.
This is truly unfortunate since his performance this season would have otherwise put him in the thick of the race. His impact on the team was immediate. The Grizzlies have won four of the six games that he has been a part of. The Murray State product is averaging 25.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists since his return. In his first game back, he erupted for a solid 34 points, painting a very different picture from how he ended last season.
Can the Grizzlies make the playoffs this season?
Despite being highly favored last season, the Grizzlies ended their season on a sour note. The Los Angeles Lakers knocked off the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs with a 40-point drubbing. That evening, Morant had what could be considered his worst showing of the 2022–23 season, managing to score only 10 points while making 3 of 16 shots.
However, this year, the Grizzlies were poised to make a deep run before they were struck with Ja Morant’s suspension. Although he is back and playing at an elite level, it might not be enough to claw the team back into playoff contention. He started the season in full swing, leading the Grizzlies to a four-game winning streak. However, the team soon went cold again and is currently searching for a win to break the three-game losing skid.
Do you think the Grizzlies can turn their season around now that Ja is back? Let us know in the comments!
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