LeBron James tells Ja Morant to 'be GREAT again' as Grizzlies star returns from second suspension for shootout during dismal 6-19 start in Memphis

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James wants Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant to return to greatness now that his second gun suspension has finally ended.

'Welcome back!!' James wrote on X, mentioning Morant's jersey number. 'Be GREAT again!!'

Morant's 25-game suspension stemming from his social media antics with pistols ended Tuesday, making him available to play against the Pelicans in New Orleans.

“He's been great even though he couldn't play in the games,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Friday night before Memphis' final home game. “He took every opportunity to be with his teammates. He leaned into the team a lot and did things off the field with his teammates.”

Under the terms of his suspension, Morant was able to practice and travel with the Grizzlies and participate in morning shootouts. But he was not allowed to be in an arena with his team during games.

Lakers star LeBron James wants to see Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant return to greatness

Morant was singing with friends when he was caught holding a gun during a livestream video

Jenkins said the two-time NBA All-Star has been increasingly involved in practices in recent weeks. Morant has also video chatted with teammates during games.

“He seems to be in a really good place. The way he has responded in five-a-side over the last few days has been really good,” Jenkins said. 'He has been preparing for this in recent months. He has really focused on the conditioning side of his body and strength and has been really impressed with the work there.”

Morant, who spoke to reporters Friday for the first time this season, has said he has been counting down the days until his return and is grateful to still be in the league and rejoin his team.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft, 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year and 2022 Most Improved Player has been suspended for a total of 33 games since he was first caught flashing a gun during a live stream on March 4 on social media.

Morant first told reporters after the Los Angeles Lakers ousted Memphis from the playoffs in April that he needed to make better decisions because he knew off-court issues were impacting the Grizzlies' season. A team that earned a second straight No. 2 seed in the Western Conference lasted just six games in the postseason.

Just two weeks later, Morant was singing with friends when he was caught holding a gun during a livestream video. Silver weighed the situation and announced the second suspension, along with other steps Morant needed to take.

That included talking weekly with the NBA office and the National Basketball Players Association.

Morant rejoins a very different Memphis team than the one he last appeared on the field with in April.

These Grizzlies have been decimated by injuries and are among the worst teams in the NBA early this season. They come into Tuesday night's game coming off a five-game losing streak following a 116-97 loss at Oklahoma City on Monday night.