[Saba Sports News] With less than two weeks remaining in Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has announced plans for a meeting with him before his return to the court. Silver has been closely monitoring the situation and intends to have a direct discussion with Morant this week. Regular contact has been maintained between the league office, Morant, his team, and the Players Association, involving weekly check-ins.
Silver disclosed that a specific program has been designed for Morant, and to his knowledge, the Memphis Grizzlies star has adhered to all the requirements. “We have devised a plan for him over these past weeks, and he seems to have followed all the directives,” Silver stated. “We plan to have a direct conversation at least once this week before he rejoins the game. The purpose is to review the program and ensure he has the right conditions for success moving forward.”
Given that the initial suspension didn’t lead to positive changes, Silver’s decision for a pre-return check-in seems prudent. There’s hope that the plan has been effective, and Morant is set to play against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 19.
Silver was taken aback by Morant’s second gun incident, after the first incident in March, where Morant displayed a gun on Instagram Live at a nightclub, resulted in only an eight-game suspension. Despite assurances given to Silver then, a similar incident occurred in May. Stephen A. Smith suggested that Morant’s 25-game suspension may have been due to misleading Silver, emphasizing the importance of trust.
The Grizzlies have struggled without Morant this season, currently ranking 13th in the Western Conference with a 6-15 record. The team’s offensive performance has notably suffered without Morant’s contributions from last season. While Morant’s return could boost their offense, their playoff prospects remain challenging, compounded by the absences of Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke. This season appears to be particularly difficult for the Grizzlies, affected by various setbacks.