While the players’ union railed against Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension, finding the sanction “excessive” and “inappropriate”, Zach Kleiman, the GM of the Grizzlies, validated the punishment.
Asked on the sidelines of the Draftthe leader found that the suspension was on the contrary “appropriate”his priority being on his side that his superstar is fully committed to the “serious steps” necessary upon his return.
“Right now we have to focus on what Ja is going to commit to in the future” thus reframes Zach Kleiman. “It’s about what steps he’s willing to take for the NBA to grant him the opportunity to return to the team after serving his suspension. »
Under the terms of the NBA suspension, Ja Morant “must formulate and implement a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior. »
A formulation that is too vague for the players’ union but which Zach Kleiman nevertheless validates, explaining that this complicated work is necessary when Ja Morant has multiplied the incidents off the field in recent months, with in particular this “gang atmosphere” linked to firearms. fire.
“The dialogue is healthy. Everyone quickly realized that it was going to be a long time and that Ja wasn’t going to become the best version of himself overnight. There are a lot of very serious steps he needs to continue to take to get there.” concludes the GM, which has recovered Marcus Smart to better manage the suspension.
| Ja Morant | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | SAME | 67 | 31 | 47.7 | 33.5 | 77.6 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 7.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 17.8 |
| 2020-21 | SAME | 63 | 33 | 44.9 | 30.3 | 72.8 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 7.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2021-22 | SAME | 57 | 33 | 49.3 | 34.4 | 76.1 | 1.4 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 27.4 |
| 2022-23 | SAME | 61 | 32 | 46.6 | 30.7 | 74.8 | 1.0 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 26.2 |
| Total | 248 | 32 | 47.2 | 32.1 | 75.3 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 7.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 22.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
