Adam Silver<\/strong> in New York before the NBA announced his suspension March 15, including the first six games he had already missed.<\/p>\nThe investigation found Morant was “holding a firearm in an intoxicated state” – but did not prove that the gun was owned by Morant “or was displayed by him beyond a brief period.” The NBA also did not find that Morant had the gun with him on Memphis’ flight to Denver, or that he possessed the gun in any NBA facility.<\/p>\n
Police in Colorado conducted their own investigation and concluded there was no reason to charge Morant with a crime after looking into the circumstances surrounding the video.<\/p>\n
Morant said in an ESPN interview on March 15 that the gun was not his and that he takes full responsibility for his actions.<\/p>\n
But the strip club incident wasn’t Morant’s first embarrassing off-court decision. The Grizzlies had been talking with Morant about his off-court conduct even before the March 4 incident.<\/p>\n
“I can see the image that I painted over myself with my recent mistakes,” Morant told ESPN. “But in the future, I’m going to show everybody who Ja really is, what I’m about and change this narrative that everybody got.”<\/p>\n
Morant, whose suspension cost him $669,000 in salary and possibly a chance to max out the five-year contract he signed last July by making the All-NBA team, also has to keep working on himself away from basketball.<\/p>\n
Morant underwent counseling during his suspension<\/h2>\n
“He’d probably be the first one to tell you, ‘Nothing is going to change immediately overnight. I’m going to learn and grow, but I’m going to get the skills and methods to do that both personally and professionally,'” Jenkins said.<\/p>\n
On the court, the Grizzlies are pleased with the growth of the 23-year-old Morant. After Memphis selected him with the No. 2 draft pick in 2019, he was named the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year and last year earned NBA Most Improved Player honors.<\/p>\n
The two-time All-Star still ranks ninth in the league averaging 27.1 points and has six triple-doubles this season.<\/p>\n
He rejoins a Memphis team in middle of competitive postseason race. The Grizzlies, who were second in the Western Conference before the March 4 incident, are tied with Sacramento – four games back of West-leading Denver with 12 games remaining.<\/p>\n
Jenkins said he and his staff need to talk with the medical team to see where Morant is physically. He said they must decide if they can get in a practice before throwing the guard back into game action.<\/p>\n
The coach knows Morant will be “chomping at the bit” to rejoin his teammates, but the Grizzlies have a plan ready for his return.<\/p>\n
Jenkins said it all starts with what’s in Morant’s head and in his heart.<\/p>\n
“He’s doing a really good job recognizing the improvements he’s making,” the coach said, “and that he has to continue to make.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n