To see him with his new rack, we could nickname him Ja Mordant! Recovered from his shoulder operation and finally calmed down, Ja Morant appeared all smiles with magnificent gold teeth.
A year ago, the Grizzlies point guard was considered an outcast, and twelve months later, he can resume his career for good. “For now, I'm happy, and that's my main concern”, he declared during “media day”. “I feel like a happy Ja is a scary Ja to a lot of people. As long as I stay happy and healthy, it will be a great season. »
More play without the ball
In his absence, the Grizzlies have sunk, and they will have to work hard to get back to the top. 18 months ago, Ja Morant and his team finished in 2nd place in the Western Conference. But before thinking about the summits, Ja Morant focuses on his mental health and his happiness to be back on the pitch and with his teammates.
“I want to find this feeling every time, whatever the situation,” he continues. “I feel like it helped me a lot, made me a better Ja. Right now, I'm probably the happiest person I've been in a long time.
Good for the Grizzlies, and on the field, Ja Morant will also discover some changes. The idea this season is to relieve him of part of the game management, and to make him play more without the ball. To support him, Marcus Smart arrived a year ago, and Desmond Bane progressed as leader.
A preseason to discover yourself
“I feel like it works in my favor and allows me to have better positions and not have to create as much,” confirms Ja Morant. “I feel like it will make us harder to defend because the ball keeps moving around the field. »
For Taylor Jenkins, there is real pleasure in looking for new solutions, and getting the most out of the athletic qualities of an exceptional player. The goal is to make his task easier, and to prevent defenses from focusing on him, as was the case during the 2023 playoffs. “It will be a pleasant process”, concludes Memphis coach. “We're going to have to read everyone's game and watch everyone's feelings as the preseason goes on, to get an idea of the strengths of all our guys. »
