- Morant, 24, also had to complete a return-to-play program handed out by the league
- The earliest Morant could play is Dec. 19, when the Grizzlies visit New Orleans
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NBA commissioner Adam Silver has revealed he will personally check in with Grizzlies star Ja Morant this coming week, ahead of the point guard's return from a 25-game suspension for a repeat offense of brandishing a gun on social media.
Ahead of the Lakers' win at the regular-season tournament in Las Vegas, Silver, 61, added Saturday evening that the 24-year-old Morant “has fulfilled everything he's been asked to do” in the return-to-play program that was set by the league when the ban was issued in May.
Morant was suspended after he was seen with a gun in a video posted to Instagram Live seven months ago.
The video of Morant showing a gun while sitting in the passenger seat of a car was shared after he served an eight-game suspension in March for another video in which he showed a gun at a Denver-area strip club.
Morant apologized in both cases.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, two-time All-Star, returns after 25-game suspension
24-year-old Morant was given a long-term ban for repeated offenses of flashing a weapon online
The earliest Morant could play is Dec. 19, when the Grizzlies visit New Orleans. That game is the second half of a back-to-back and it's unclear how soon the Grizzlies will get their franchise player back into the lineup.
Memphis desperately needs Morant after starting this season with a 6-15 record as the team is tied for 13th in the Western Conference standings.
What's more is that without Morant, the Grizzlies couldn't win a tournament game on the season, finishing 0-4.
Meanwhile, Silver said the NBA's relationship with the National Basketball Players Association is “business as usual,” even after the union saw a change in its leadership last month.
Memphis desperately needs Morant, the franchise player, after starting the season 6-15
Silver also announced four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala, C, as interim president of the NBPA
Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio stepped down less than halfway through her four-year term and was replaced on an interim basis by four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala.
“I had no idea changes were coming,” Silver said. He added that he does not know why there has been a sudden change in union leadership.
Silver was also asked if the league is considering putting the name of former commissioner David Stern — Silver's predecessor — on any of its trophies, including the one for the season tournament.
The idea has been discussed and the league has not yet decided how best to honor Stern in that capacity.
“Stay tuned,” Silver said.