"Ja wick is back"- NBA fans welcome back Ja Morant in his first game back since his suspension

Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant made his much-anticipated return to the lineup on Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets.

Morant's return comes after his eight-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the league. Morant previously rejoined the Grizzlies on Monday, however, the team opted to hold him out for an additional game as he ramped up his conditioning.

Upon his return to action on Wednesday, Morant came off the bench. However, he didn’t skip a beat as he immediately posterized Rockets forward Kenyon Martin Jr. early in the second quarter.

Bleacher Report

@BleacherReport

JA MORANT POSTER

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JA MORANT POSTER 😳 https://t.co/Q0kQUxpQiL

The poster dunk had fans on Twitter hyped to see the return of one of the NBA’s most electric stars. Meanwhile, some fans opted to crack jokes at Morant’s expense, following his March 4 gun-wielding incident at a Colorado nightclub that got him suspended.

Here are some of the best fan reactions to Morant’s dunk:

Ney

@NeyanOficial

@BleacherReport Ja wick is back.

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1

@BleacherReport Ja wick is back. https://t.co/Yg6urGQJkd

MaReisebruce

@MaReiseBruce

@BleacherReport 🤣Mf was jus waiting to come off the bench like…

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@BleacherReport 🤣Mf was jus waiting to come off the bench like… https://t.co/1nYXH2qpc2

Nic Claxton fanatic

@ClaxFanatic

@BleacherReport Curry can’t do this

2

@BleacherReport Curry can’t do this 😭

Ev

@EvInFour

@BleacherReport Ja fist game back and he alr getting posters

81

@BleacherReport Ja fist game back and he alr getting posters😭

LR87

@LogRich87

@BleacherReport NBA script writers

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@BleacherReport NBA script writers https://t.co/vUUlBv8Ipj

NBAISMYLIFE

@stinkyvamp

@BleacherReport

1

@BleacherReport https://t.co/Y253JIyGQz

NuggetsMuse

@NuggetsMuse27

@BleacherReport bro just got back

@BleacherReport bro just got back 😂

Nicklas

@Nicklastns

@BleacherReport Catching bodies in and outside of the nba

1

@BleacherReport Catching bodies in and outside of the nba

Jahmeir D. ✭

@JDCowboys4Life

@BleacherReport Unloaded the clip on em

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@BleacherReport Unloaded the clip on em https://t.co/0SWT1Eia76

How did Memphis fare during Ja Morant’s absence?

Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant

In the eight games that Ja Morant was suspended for as well as his additional rest game, the Grizzlies were able to hold down the fort. The team went 6-3 without Morant. Overall, Memphis is 10-8 without Morant this season. That is likely why the team was in no hurry to rush him back.

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters before Wednesday night’s game that Morant could come off the bench for a game or two. He will then be re-evaluated:

"This was something he brought to the table as well as had been on my mind," Jenkins said. "So, we collectively thought this was the best strategy, at least for the first one or two games. And then we'll kind of re-evaluate after that."

The Grizzlies entered Wednesday sitting second in the Western Conference (44-27).

Morant averaged 27.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game on 46.3% shooting over 53 games before his suspension.

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