After a chippy six-game first round Western Conference playoff matchup last season between LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers and Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies, it would certainly be understandable if James opted not to weigh in Morant’s return from his 25-game suspension this season that seems to have doomed the Grizz’s 2023-24 season.
Instead, James decided to voice his enthusiasm on social media today. Not one, but twice (so far).
First, he issued this generous missive in the morning:
Next, he voiced his excitement while watching Morant’s return game tonight, an eventual 115-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans:
The troubled Grizzlies point guard, a two-time All-Star, had been penalized by NBA commissioner Adam Silver after a series of unfortunate incidents throughout and immediately after the 2022-23 season.
During his first action of the 2023-24 season, Morant scored 34 points on 12-of-24 shooting from the floor and 10-of-12 shooting from the foul line, dished out eight assists, grabbed six rebounds, swiped two steals and blocked a shot.
Memphis still has a ways to go if the team even wants to qualify for a play-in slot this season. The victory improved the team to a lackluster 7-19 record on the year, seven games behind the tenth-seeded Phoenix Suns.
