SALT LAKE CITY — Ja Morant’s skill to take over a recreation hasn’t diminished.
Morant didn’t miss a beat in main the Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-124 season-opening victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night time. The 2-time NBA all-star completed with 22 factors on 7-of-12 taking pictures, 10 assists and 5 rebounds in solely 28 minutes. It was the twenty fourth recreation of his profession the place he had no less than 20 factors, 10 assists and 5 rebounds.
“My job as a degree guard is to regulate the sport,” Morant mentioned. “I hate if I let the opposite workforce’s level guard management the sport. No matter I can do to verify it’s in our favor, I attempt to do.”
His efficiency comes on the heels of a 2023-24 season marred by controversy and damage. The NBA suspended him for the primary 25 video games for flashing a gun on his good friend’s Instagram account. Then, after showing in simply 9 video games, Morant suffered a season-ending shoulder damage.
The lengthy rehabilitation course of he went by following shoulder surgical procedure made Morant recognize how a lot basketball meant to him whereas it was gone. As soon as he was cleared for full basketball actions once more in mid-July, he appeared ahead to stepping again out on the courtroom on Wednesday.
The second was all the things he anticipated and wished.
“I used to be simply excited to be again on the market,” Morant mentioned. “These guys belief and consider in me each time I’m on the market on the ground, so it’s solely proper I’m going on the market and play free.”
Morant’s exercise on each ends of the ground helped the Grizzlies climate a fourth-quarter rally from the Jazz. He got here up with well timed baskets or assists each time Memphis wanted a solution. Defensively, he labored to be disruptive and maintain the Jazz from completely seizing momentum down the stretch.
Morant made each minute he was on the ground rely.
“He solely performed 28 minutes tonight,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned. “However these had been hard-playing 28 minutes.”
Morant’s aim is to be much more productive and environment friendly as he will get continued reps. It’s an extension of the work he put in over the summer season to enhance his recreation and heighten his influence on the ground.
“That was the most important takeaway from this summer season is the funding in his physique, understanding we’re going to proceed to push him much more than we’ve carried out prior to now,” Jenkins mentioned. “He responded in recreation one. We’re going to wish it for a lot of, many extra video games transferring ahead.”