"Don't forget who Ja Morant is" - Richard Jefferson believes Grizzlies star has the most to prove this upcoming season
Following a controversy and injury-plagued season, Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant continues gearing up for a potential redemption campaign. According to ESPN's Richard Jefferson, the two-time All-Star has the most compelling comeback narrative of any player this upcoming season.
After guiding Memphis to three consecutive playoff appearances and two straight top-two Western Conference finishes, Morant's 2023-24 campaign was derailed.
Morant was suspended for the season's first 25 games for repeatedly brandishing a firearm, returning in late December. Nine contests later, he suffered a labral tear in his right shoulder, requiring season-ending surgery in early January.
The Morant-less Grizzlies, hampered by several other key injuries, ultimately finished 13th (27-55) in the West, becoming an afterthought. However, with Morant and Co. approaching full strength, expectations are growing for them to return to West contention.
On ESPN's "NBA Today" Tuesday, Jefferson and his co-hosts discussed which player they are most excited to see make a comeback. The one-time NBA champion chose Morant, citing his and his squad's opportunity to remind everyone who they are.
"I'm gonna say Ja Morant," Jefferson said. "This was a team that was trending upward. They were the OKC Thunder two seasons ago. Obviously, there have been injuries and there have been a lot of things that have gone on within the organization.
"But don't forget who Ja Morant is, don't forget about [Desmond] Bane, don't forget about Jaren Jackson Jr., former Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart, former DPOY. This is a loaded roster that just needed to get healthy and make sure that their internal group was focused, pushing in the right direction," he added.
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Morant is set to return to a stacked West featuring several rising powerhouses, including the OKC Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks. Meanwhile, the 2023 champion Denver Nuggets will look to bounce back after suffering an unexpected second-round playoff exit.
So, Morant will likely need to be on his A-game to lead Memphis to a top seed for the third time in four years.
Also Read: Former Knicks guard snubs Ja Morant on his list of top 5 PGs in NBA
Ja Morant issues warning to doubters ahead of comeback
Ahead of his highly anticipated comeback season, Ja Morant is seemingly ready to prove his skeptics wrong.
Earlier this month, the one-time All-NBA selectee released a hype video showcasing his rehab and offseason preparation, beginning with the phrase, "How soon they forget."
Morant moves spryly throughout the clip, demonstrating his trademark athleticism at the rim. Thus, he appears poised to regain his All-Star form in his sixth season.
Over nine appearances last season, Morant averaged 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.6 3-pointers per game, shooting 47.1%.
Also Read: "They’ll remember real quick" - Former Grizzlies forward warns NBA about Ja Morant's imminent comeback following injury