Ja Morant sends out 3-word message ahead of impending season
Regarded as one of the most electric and explosive superstars in the league, Ja Morant's 2023-24 season ended in disappointment after an injury and a 25-game suspension. However, Morant has already started to build anticipation for his imminent return to the court with a three-word post to look beyond the previous season.
When the Memphis Grizzlies star returned on Dec. 19, 2023, he was a pivotal piece in his team's four-game winning streak. The squad struggled to secure consistent wins without their franchise player, so his return was just what they needed to get back on track.
However, he only played nine games last season due to a labral tear in his right shoulder that resulted in a season-ending surgery.
"It's go t:me," Morant posted.
During that nine-game stretch, Morant posted 25.1 points, 8.1 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game, with 47.1 percent shooting and 27.5 percent from beyond the arc.
All that remains is for Morant to start the season with a commanding presence to wipe out the memory of the previous 82-stretch that Grizzlies fans would more than love to forget.
Ja Morant shared the "frustrating" nature of watching his teammates from the bench last season
It's common for NBA players with injuries to feel left out when their teammates are playing hard on the court without them. The same can be said for Ja Morant, who spoke with The Commercial Appeal's Jonah Dylan about supporting his teammates from the bench.
"It's frustrating," Morant posted. "Obviously I always want to be out there, fighting with the team. I couldn't, which I had to deal with. Definitely frustrating, wanting to be out there but can't and then you see everything else going on."
There's no denying Morant's passion for the game and the drive to be available to play alongside his teammates. After being a reliable presence in his first four seasons in the league, it was evident that last season was a roller coaster of emotions under a new context.
Ja Morant talked about how being around his team helped amid the surgery recovery
When the two-time NBA All-Star was ruled out for the 2023-24 season, he decided to be a supportive teammate. At the same time, Morant revealed how much it helped to be around his team as he continued to recover from his shoulder injury.
"It's definitely helped me a lot," Morant said. "Obviously, pretty much made my life normal on what I would normally do outside of playing games. Being able to travel, being in practices, shootaround, even on the bench during games, helped me a lot to still be around the guys and still be around basketball."
It created a sense of camaraderie with his teammates. As a result, the young superstar didn't feel alienated during the season when he was unable to suit up for the rest of the 82-game schedule.