If you’re a fan of basketball and the NBA; today was a good day. Following a 25 game suspension to start this season for multiple incidents involving irresponsible handling of firearms on public and on social media, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant returned to action on Tuesday Night. Morant scored 34 points and added 6 rebounds and 8 assists to his statistical total and showed the world that he hasn’t missed a step during this suspension. Most importantly of all, Morant hit a game winner as time expired to propel the Grizzlies to a 115-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The Grizzlies remain in a big hole as Tuesday’s win improved them to 7-19 and they will need to get read hot over the next few months to have any shot at making the playoffs this year.
A star looking to change the narrative
There’s no denying Morant has made mistakes and lacked maturity in the incidents leading to his suspension. Morant had been in hot water already for a years worth of incidents that finally led up to what is a massive suspension for NBA standards. This article from Forbes details Morant’s timeline that led up to the suspension; multiple incidents waving firearms on social media, altercations, threats made on social media are amongst the list. Commissioner Adam Silver hoped that in handing this suspension to Morant, it would be eye opening to the 24 year old superstar who is expected to be one of the faces of the league for years to come. I’m personally rooting for Morant very much as I’m sure most basketball fans are. What makes America great is this being the land where people can get second chances and learn from mistakes; Morant has not made any life altering mistakes to seriously harm himself or others. It’s more just been a series of immature incidents that have people worried it could not only lead to violent behavior from Morant but influence young fans that look up to Morant that it’s okay to act out this way, especially in a country and in a city of Memphis in particular that’s riddled with senseless gun violence.
The next American superstar?
The NBA is an interesting spot right now that further solidifies the importance of having Morant of part of the league and its future. Stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant who were, and still are some of the faces of the league are aging and on the back nine of their terrific careers. Right now, stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama are taking over as the new superstars and faces of the league. What these guys all have in common is that they are foreign players and part of huge foreign boom we’ve seen in the NBA. This begs the question of after James, Curry and Durant are all retired, who will be the big American superstar of the league? New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is who many thought this would be but his career is heading the wrong way as he battles chronic injuries coupled with not being able to escape this issues with his weight and the narratives created by that. Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics is another answer some might give to this question but while Tatum is an extraordinary player, one of the best in the league without a shadow of a doubt, nothing about Tatum is flashy. Tatum is not a flashy guy on or off the court, he goes about his business and goes home. Tatum is an amazing player but seems to have no interest in being one of those guys that you constantly see in the media and as one of the faces of the league. This leaves Ja Morant. Ja is the best of both worlds, he has an incredible infectious personality and swagger that fans absolutely love and gravitate to. Couple that with the incredible highlight dunks Morant makes on a consistent basis and electric play style, Morant would fit this bill as the next face of basketball in America and that superstar the league markets for years to come. This goes to show the importance of Morant keeping his head on straight and having him a part of the league for years to come. As we sit here tonight and admire what we saw in Morant’s return, we all hope this is a new beginning for Morant and the start of an absolutely incredible redemption story for one of the leagues young superstars.
