Ja Morant missed the first third of the NBA Season due to his suspension.
This caused the Memphis Grizzles to have a less-than-ideal start to the year, as they were missing their main superstar.
After a long wait, Morant returned to the floor this week, immediately contributing for the Grizzlies.
He had his first home game on December 21st, where the team greeted him with a ceremony led by Derrick Rose.
After the game, Morant responded to this gesture, calling Rose an “OG,” seemingly happy about the small ceremony.
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) December 22, 2023
Rose is a long-time NBA veteran, and he represents a brand of basketball that is on its way out of the league.
There seem to be generational shifts within the NBA, and Morant represents the new-age style of basketball that fans have come to love.
It was only fitting that Rose was the one to welcome him back to their home arena.
While Morant didn’t have as dominant of a game as he had in his season opener, he still played well enough to help the Grizzlies beat the Indiana Pacers.
He finished the game with 20 points, eight assists, and five rebounds.
This is a sign that, while Morant missed significant time, he hasn’t lost a step.
The Grizzlies have dug themselves a challenging hole to overcome for the rest of the season, which might be insurmountable to make the playoffs.
If his first two games are any indication, Morant is more than ready to help bring his team out of their rut, trying to push them towards the postseason.
NEXT: Analyst Offers Advice To Ja Morant After His Return