MEMPHIS – For the past few weeks, Ja Morant has largely guided the Grizzlies through practices and preseason exhibitions from the sidelines with his vocal leadership.
The franchise catalyst and two-time NBA All-Star is ready to deliver his impact on the court as the Grizzlies prepare for Wednesday’s season opener at FedExForum.
After sitting out the preseason with a sprained ankle, Morant has been a full participant in recent workouts. That included Tuesday’s practice as Memphis finalized plans to face the Pelicans. Morant sprained his ankle Oct. 5, the day before the Grizzlies’ first preseason game against Detroit. He would miss all five exhibitions, including the last two as a precaution.
Wednesday’s game will mark Morant’s first official action since he suffered a hip injury in the first half against Oklahoma City in Game 3 of a first-round playoff series last April. With Morant sidelined in Game 4, the Grizzlies were swept by the eventual NBA champions.
“I’m definitely ready to play,” Morant declared in his first media session since the Grizzlies opened training camp last month. “It’s business for me. It’s Year 7 now. I haven’t played a game since Game 3. I’m ready to go.”
Morant will be in the starting lineup with power forward Jaren Jackson Jr., meaning the Grizzlies will have their All-Stars on the court in a season opener for the first time in four years.
However, Memphis will be shorthanded by injuries that have hampered the team entering training camp and throughout the preseason. The Grizzlies will open the season without big men Zach Edey (ankle) and Brandon Clarke (knee), who are recovering from offseason surgeries.
The backcourt depth is also limited by the absences of Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) and Ty Jerome (calf), who both went down during the preseason and will miss significant time. Injuries made it difficult for Tuomas Iisalo to establish his new systems on both ends of the court entering his first full season as coach after finishing the final two months of last season in the interim role.
Despite sluggish performances during four of their five preseason games, the Grizzlies carry plenty of optimism into the games that count. That has a plenty to do with the presence of Morant and Jackson Jr., who returned two weeks ahead of schedule from offseason toe surgery to play in the final two preseason games last week.
“We’ve got some key guys for us that will be out to start the season, but we have to focus on what we do have,” said Morant, who has averaged 22.6 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds through his first six NBA seasons. “We have guys here who can step up to the plate. It’s just about going out, being us, executing and washing away the preseason stuff.”
Those circumstances almost assure that the Grizzlies will be a work in progress through the early stages of the season. Coming off a summer trade that sent Desmond Bane to Orlando for veteran swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Grizzlies are charting a new direction with their core for the first time in six seasons.
Pope, who won championships with the Lakers and Nuggets over his 12-year career, is expected to start in the backcourt alongside Morant. The frontcourt is anchored by Jackson Jr. at power forward, returns second-year swingman Jaylen Wells at small forward and is rounded out by journeyman newcomer Jock Landale at center.
The Grizzlies are also expected to rely early on two rookies in lottery pick Cedric Coward and second-rounder Javon Small, who blossomed as a fill-in starter at point guard in the preseason.
Morant has been encouraged by what he’s seen his new teammates during the acclimation process, despite the injuries and preseason challenges.
“For me, it hasn’t been hard,” Morant insisted. “Even though I haven’t been playing with them, I’ve been very vocal, telling them things like, ‘When I get out there, that’s going to be different.’”
The past few days have been spent getting everyone up to speed.
That includes one of the most dynamic players in the league.
“Being on the court with the team, it’s been actually turning my words into actions and getting a feel for one another,” Morant continued. “The most important part is guys that aren’t used to my passing (need to) know that I’m passing you into a spot or leading you somewhere.”
That much is certain with Morant available to open a new season.
Where the Grizzlies go from here is largely in his hands.