Ja Morant suspension: What to know about Grizzlies star to start season, when Morant returns

Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant will not be on the floor during the Grizzlies' season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday at FedExForum.

Morant is suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season for what the NBA termed conduct detrimental to the league. This is Morant's second suspension of the calendar year after he was suspended for eight games in March during the second half of last season.

Here's what you need to know about Morant's suspension, including when he will be eligible to return to the team.

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Why is Ja Morant suspended?

The NBA announced that Morant was suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season following a May 14 Instagram Live video clip where Morant brandished a gun. The NBA termed the suspension as a result of conduct detrimental to the league.

“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on June 16. “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated."

Morant can practice with the team, be involved in meetings and can travel with the team on the road. However, he is not allowed to be in the arena within two hours before game time.

"I've had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I've caused," Morant said in a statement on June 16. "I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis. To Adam Silver, Zach Kleiman and Robert Pera - who gave me the opportunity to be a professional athlete and have supported me, I'm sorry for the harm I've done. To the kids who look up to me, I'm sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I'm going to be better. To all my sponsors, I'm going to be a better representation of our brands. And to all my fans, I'm going to make it up to you, I promise."

Morant had been suspended eight games in March for conduct detrimental to the league after Morant purportedly brandished a gun on Instagram Live while inside a Colorado club. Morant checked into a counseling program in Florida after the suspension.

When will Ja Morant return to the Grizzlies?

He is eligible to return to game action on Dec. 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans. The first home game that Morant will be eligible to return for will be the Dec. 21 game against the Indiana Pacers.

Incidentally, the Grizzlies will have one nationally-televised game before Morant's suspension is over and 12 after he is eligible to return to play.

How much will Ja Morant's suspension cost him?

Morant will lose out on more than $7 million in salary during the suspension, ESPN reported. Morant is making about $34 million this season, per Spotrac, in the first year of his new contract that runs through the 2027-28 season.

What Taylor Jenkins, Zach Kleiman have said about Ja Morant's suspension

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins hasn't said much about Morant's conduct after the suspension was handed out, but he did comment on an ESPN story published last week that detailed Morant's troubles over the last two years. The ESPN report detailed the Grizzlies' growing concern about Morant's conduct during that span, which has resulted in the league suspensions and has caused some legal troubles in Memphis.

"I’m not really going to comment on the past," Jenkins said on Oct. 18. "I’m really just focused on the present right now — the strides he is making, positive strides, and the strides that the team is making."

“I want him to know he’s got 100% support from us and his teammates,” Jenkins later added. “We’re not going to pay much time at all. We got a lot of stuff to work on.”

Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman spoke initially about Morant's suspension on June 23 after the NBA Draft.

“We’re certainly disappointed with the behavior that transpired as we got in the offseason," Kleiman said on June 23. The discipline from the NBA, I think, is appropriate."

“Couldn’t care care less about words," he said later in the availability. "Ja has to prove it. It’s easy to say the right things.”

How Grizzlies will replace Ja Morant during his suspension

Initially, the Grizzlies have Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose to handle the ball during Morant's 25-game suspension. Desmond Bane could be the ballhandler at times as well, and Luke Kennard is expected to play a lot in the Grizzlies backcourt.

Tyus Jones, the Grizzlies' backup point guard for all of Morant's first four NBA seasons, signed with the Washington Wizards in the offseason. Jones helped the Grizzlies to a 11-10 regular season record without Morant last season, and he also started the Grizzlies' Game 2 win in last season's Western Conference first round playoff series against the Lakers. Memphis will need to adjust to Jones' departure to continue to be successful when Morant is not on the floor.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ja Morant suspension: Why Grizzlies star is suspended, when he returns