SALT LAKE CITY — Ja Morant once again demonstrated his remarkable talent, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-124 victory against the Utah Jazz in their season opener on Wednesday night. The two-time NBA All-Star showcased his skills with an impressive performance, accumulating 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, alongside 10 assists and five rebounds while playing just 28 minutes. This game marked the 24th occasion in Morant’s career where he has achieved at least 20 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds in a single match.
“My role as a point guard is to dictate the pace of the game,” Morant explained. “I dislike it when the opposing point guard takes control. I do everything I can to ensure our team holds the advantage.”
Morant’s standout performance comes after a tumultuous 2023-24 season marred by personal issues and injury. He faced a 25-game suspension from the NBA for displaying a firearm in a video shared on his friend’s Instagram account. Subsequently, he played just nine games before suffering a shoulder injury that ended his season.
The long recovery period following his shoulder surgery gave Morant a renewed understanding of how much basketball means to him during his time away from the court. By mid-July, when he received clearance to resume full basketball activities, he was eager to return to action on Wednesday.
“Being back out there felt amazing,” Morant expressed. “My teammates trust and believe in me, so I want to play freely when I’m on the court.”
His contributions on both sides of the court were crucial in helping the Grizzlies fend off a late-game comeback from the Jazz. Morant consistently provided key baskets and assists at critical moments, while his defensive efforts aimed to stifle the Jazz and prevent them from gaining complete momentum as the game progressed.
Morant made every moment he spent on the court impactful. “He only logged 28 minutes tonight,” remarked Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. “But those minutes were filled with intense play.”
Looking ahead, Morant is focused on enhancing his productivity and efficiency as he gains more playing time. This goal builds upon the training he undertook during the summer, aiming to bolster his overall impact on the court.
“One of the main takeaways from this summer was his commitment to taking care of his body. We plan to push him even more compared to what we have in the past,” Jenkins noted. “He certainly showed up in game one, and we will rely on this level of performance for many games to come.”
