Ja Morant is feeling “so much better” after returning from suspension as the Grizzlies star says he’s “overcome a few things” after posing with a gun at a strip club and getting banned for eight games.
Ja Morant is back playing basketball for the Grizzlies after a lengthy suspension, and by his own account he’s doing well.
Morant was sidelined for eight NBA games after being seen brandishing a gun at a Denver-area strip club on March 4.
But the electrifying guard returned to the lineup on Wednesday and has since contributed to two Grizzlies victories off the bench, scoring at least 17 points in both games.
Morant took to Instagram Saturday morning to express his feelings after his team clinched a playoff spot the night before by beating the Rockets 151-114.
‘I just exceeded the sum [s**t] And man, I feel so much better,’ he said.
Ja Morant scored 18 points off the bench as the Grizzlies defeated the Rockets 151-114
Morant, 23, found himself in trouble after flashing a gun at a nightclub on social media in Denver following a Grizzlies loss against the Nuggets.
‘And iann tripping over something because I realized I’m special.’
Morant was eligible to return Monday against the Mavs but remained inactive for that game.
However, on Wednesday, Memphis fans greeted him with a standing ovation when he returned to the field.
‘I really can’t put it into words. I’m a little numb right now,” Morant said, according to the AP.
‘Grateful to everyone.’
On Tuesday, Morant spoke publicly for the first time since his league-imposed eight-game suspension ended Tuesday, describing his current status as an “ongoing process” after 11 days of counseling in Florida during his absence.
“Obviously, I’ve been there for two weeks, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely better. So, that’s an ongoing process for me that I’ve still been going on since I came out,” she said.
He denied any suggestion that he has difficulty handling alcohol amid NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s determination that the 23-year-old was in an “intoxicated state” via the league statement.
Morant returned to the FedEx Forum Monday night after his highly publicized suspension.
Ja Morant returned to the court in his game uniform Wednesday after his leave
“I don’t have an alcohol problem, never had an alcohol problem,” Morant said. ‘I was [to FL.] to get counseling to learn how to manage stress, deal with stress in a positive way instead of the ways I’ve tried to deal with it before that caused me to make mistakes.’
Morant has apologized once again for the incident in which he displayed a gun at a Denver strip club in the hours after a March 3 loss to the Nuggets.
“I’m really sorry about that,” Morant said after practice.
“So, you know, my job now is, like I said, to be more responsible, smarter, and not cause any of that anymore.”