Ja Morant reacts to his return, details meeting with Adam Silver / News - Basketnews.com

Morant said it was the perfect day, and the boos by the local crowd did not distract him. Ja hit a game-winner despite feeling cramps in his calves. Before the game, he had a meeting with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, which was all positive, the player said.

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant returned to the court after a 25-game suspension and hit a game-winning shot to lead his team to a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Player of the Game EFF 30 Ja Morant Points 34 Accuracy 12-24 Rebounds 6 Assists 8

Morant was booed by the New Orleans crowd in his comeback game. Asked about it, the 24-year-old downplayed the fact.

"I don't know. It's a lot of people that don't like me," he said in the post-game press conference.

"I think the surprising part was I got caught in the starting lineup, it was loud cheers, and when the game started, it went to boos. I don't know the reason, I don't know what I did to the Pelicans or their fans, but they've got to root for their team, so it's all good," the player explained.

It was the first Ja Morant's game since April. Despite not having played for multiple months, Morant hit a game-winner to give his team only its 7th win this season.

"Emotionally, it wasn't too hard for me. Obviously, I've been prepping for this for almost 8 months. It's been 8 months since I played a game. I'm confident in the work I was putting in, trying to be in the best shape possible to get out there and be out there for the guys. As far as going down early, I kind of expected it - not by 20, whatever, but all good. I kind of expected to be some jitters, guys not knowing what to do," Morant said.

"Obviously, I haven't been out there for 25 games. They had a style of play, they had to adapt wihtout me on the floor. Me coming in, I don't want to change anything, but I also have to be Ja," the guard explained. "I felt like in the first half I was trying to figure the game out. In the second half, in the locker room, I just told the team to stay together, that we can make a run. Normally, when that happens, when you have a big lead, it's hard to keep it in the NBA - it's a game of runs."

3-pointers this season

33%12,9Points made:12,9Accuracy:33,2%Place in standings:11Record max:20Record min:7Most made 3FGs:Desmond BaneTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

Morant faced multiple controversies in the last year, involving not only him but his family and friends as well. He had to undergo counseling last season. Now, Morant was able to play in the NBA again, and do it with his father in the courtside seats watching him.

Ja finished the game with 34 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals.

"I felt like it was the perfect ending, the perfect day. Being able to come back and play, and also deliver the game-winner for us to win the game. Over this little time, I've been putting a lot of trust in God, getting closer with God, I know he has a plan for me, and it's already written. I just let Him lead me," Morant said. "As far as my dad, it's a lot of emotions throughout the whole family. We all were pretty much excited, it was 'yeah, Ja's back', but kind of sad in a sense. Having him back courtside and root not only for me but for this team, it was big time."

Throughout his 25-game suspension, Morant was able to practice with his Grizzlies teammates in the franchise's facilities. The player says they were nothing but supportive throughout his entire journey toward coming back.

"It's been helpful. They showed me a lot of support, the got on my ass a little, too. I felt like it was needed - not only in this process for me, but for them as well to learn from me. In this world, a lot of us make mistakes. The message they got from me was that regardless if you make a mistake, you have another chance to fix it and reinvent yourself," Morant said.

"Them seeing me, I was hearing a lot of 'Ja, I'm proud of you how you're carrying' from them, and I could see how it changed them as well, how they go about their days," he shared. "I think that's the good that happened during this process. Obviously, I don't wish for it to happen, but it definitely took my family and my team to the next level."

Talking about the last play, Morant said he was feeling the fatigue already and had to be helped by the team's medical staff during the last timeout.

"I had a conversation with Des[mond Bane]. I asked him what he wanted to run late in those situations. I think I made two layups back-to-back before the game-winner. When I was going to take off and come down, I felt like my calves were about to start cramping. That timeout we had to draw the last play up, I actually had them massage gun my calves," Morant said.

"I told Des, asked him if we wanted to get an easy bucket. Jaren had a smaller defender on him, [I asked] 'should we just go to the post at the time?' He told me, 'f**k no, you're getting the ball'. At that point, I just had to lock in and deliver, and I did," Morant smiled.

The player said he was keeping the receipts of everything that was said about him during the crisis, and he remembers it very well. Before Tuesday night's game, Morant also had a meeting with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The player said that it was all positive.

"It was good. We came in, he checked on me [to see] how I was doing. Pretty much, he was telling me how excited he was to be able to have me back playing. He said, 'Enjoy the moment and stay locked in'. I actually plan on talking with him more often even though I'm back playing just to continue to build that relationship with him," Morant concluded.

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