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NBA: Ja Morant to return against Rockets

Agence France Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Ja Morant looks to dunk the ball during the 72nd NBA All-Star game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 19 February 2023. George Frey, EPA-EFE" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/03/05/030523_nba-asg-ja-morant_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>Ja Morant looks to dunk the ball during the 72nd NBA All-Star game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 19 February 2023. <em>George Frey, EPA-EFE</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>LOS ANGELES, United States - Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins confirmed that Ja Morant will make his NBA return from suspension against the Houston Rockets later on Wednesday.</p><p>Jenkins told reporters in pre-game remarks that Morant -- who has not played since posting video of himself waving a gun in a strip club on March 4 -- would start on the bench.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/16/23/nba-ja-morant-banned-for-8-games-for-gun-in-nightclub">NBA: Grizzlies&#x27; Morant banned for 8 games for gun in nightclub</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/14/23/nba-ja-morant-enters-counseling-program">NBA: Ja Morant enters counseling program</a></li></ul><p>&quot;That might be the case for a couple of games, this was a collaborative effort,&quot; Jenkins said of the decision to put Morant on the bench.</p><p>&quot;We collectively thought this was the best strategy at least for the first one or two games, then we&#x27;ll re-evaluate from there.</p><p>Jenkins said he expected Morant&#x27;s on-court minutes against Houston to be &quot;somewhere in the low 20s.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ll see how the game goes. He hasn&#x27;t had a lot of five-on-five exposure, so we want to be smart for the first week or two that with the layoff we&#x27;re not doing anything to jeopardise his health,&quot; Jenkins said.</p><p>Morant was hit with an eight-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the NBA after footage of the strip club incident emerged. </p><p>The 23-year-old -- regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the NBA -- later said he had begun therapy to help manage stress.</p><p>Morant told reporters on Tuesday his treatment was an &quot;ongoing process.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;ve made mistakes in the past that cause a lot of negative attention -- not only to me, but my family as well, my team, the organization,&quot; Morant said.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m completely sorry for that... My job now is to be more responsible, more smarter, and don&#x27;t cause any of that no more.&quot;</p><div><strong>rcw/js</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins confirmed that Ja Morant will make his NBA return from suspension against the Houston Rockets later on Wednesday.