Ja Morant is feeling ‘so better’ after return from suspension, as Grizzlies star says he ‘overcame some s**t’ after posing with a gun in a strip club and getting banned for eight games
Ja Morant is back playing basketball for the Grizzlies after a lengthy ban – and doing well by his own telling.
Morant was held out of action for eight games by the NBA after being seen brandishing a gun in a Denver-area strip club on March 4.
But the electrifying guard returned to the lineup Wednesday and has since contributed to two Grizzlies wins off the bench, scoring at least 17 points in both contests.
Morant took to Instagram Saturday morning to express his feelings after his team clinched a playoff berth the night before by beating the Rockets 151-114.
‘I just overcame sum [s**t] & man I’m feelin so better,’ he said.
Ja Morant scored 18 points off the bench as the Grizzlies trounced the Rockets 151-114
![Morant, 23, found himself in trouble after flashing a gun at a night club on social media in Denver following a Grizzlies loss against the Nuggets](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/21/00/68905787-11883717-Morant_23_found_himself_in_legal_trouble_after_flashing_a_gun_at-a-57_1679359864550.jpg)
Morant, 23, found himself in trouble after flashing a gun at a night club on social media in Denver following a Grizzlies loss against the Nuggets
‘And iann trippin’ bout a thing because I noticed I’m special.’
Morant was eligible to return Monday against the Mavs but remained inactive for that contest.
On Wednesday, though, he was greeted with a standing ovation by Memphis fans as he returned to the court.
‘I can’t really put it into words. I’m kind of numb right now,’ Morant said according to the AP.
‘Thankful to everybody.’
On Tuesday, Morant spoke publicly for the first time since concluding his eight-game league-enforced suspension Tuesday, describing his current state as an ‘ongoing process’ after 11 days of counseling in Florida during his absence.
‘Obviously, I’ve been there for two weeks, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely better. So, that’s an ongoing process for me that I’ve still been continuing since I’ve come out,’ he said.
He denied any suggestion he has difficulties handling alcohol amid NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s determination that the 23-year-old was in an ‘intoxicated state’ via the league’s statement.
![Morant returned to FedEx Forum Monday night after his highly publicized suspension](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/21/22/68961023-11887715-image-a-15_1679436672383.jpg)
Morant returned to FedEx Forum Monday night after his highly publicized suspension
![Ja Morant returned to the court in his playing uniform Wednesday after his leave of absence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/23/01/69013221-11892333-image-a-19_1679534600981.jpg)
Ja Morant returned to the court in his playing uniform Wednesday after his leave of absence
‘I don’t have an alcohol problem, never had an alcohol problem,’ Morant said. ‘I went [to FL.] for counseling to learn how to manage stress, cope with stress in a positive way instead of ways I’ve tried to deal with it before that caused me to make mistakes.’
Morant apologized once more for the incident in which he flashed a gun at a Denver strip club in the hours following a March 3 loss to the Nuggets.
‘I’m completely sorry for that,’ Morant said after practice.
‘So, you know, my job now is, like I said, to be more responsible, more smarter, and don´t cause any of that no more.’
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