Ja Morant return date: When is he returning for Memphis Grizzlies?

Ja Morant’s much-anticipated return to NBA action could come as early as March 20 in front of the team’s fans against the Dallas Mavericks. Morant was given an eight-game suspension by the league but has already served six of them.

After speculations about the length of his suspension, Shams Charania reported about the NBA’s findings and the corresponding punishment:

“NBA investigation into Ja Morant did not conclude that the gun belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period... 'also did not find that Morant possessed the gun while traveling with the team or in any NBA facility.'"

Morant was reportedly looking at a 50-game suspension had the NBA not reached its official conclusion after the investigation.

Morant won't be around in back-to-back games against the San Antonio Spurs on March 17 and versus the Golden State Warriors on March 18. FedEx Forum will surely be hyped on March 20 for a possible return of the team’s franchise player.

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The Memphis Grizzlies need Ja Morant to make a deep run in the playoffs

The Memphis Grizzlies will only go as far as Morant can carry the franchise.

The Memphis Grizzlies are 3-3 since Ja Morant's suspension. After their 138-119 loss to the Miami Heat last Wednesday, they now have a 41-27 record. Memphis is now half a game behind the Sacramento Kings (27-27) for the second seed.

The Denver Nuggets, after snapping a four-game losing streak with a win over the Detroit Pistons, are now 47-23. They're five games ahead of the Grizzlies for the best record in the Western Conference.

The Grizzlies are looking like a cinch to grab a postseason slot, particularly if Morant returns. They've managed to hold the fort without him and should be stronger with him in the lineup.

The playoffs will be where the two-time NBA All-Star will earn his money. Memphis will be shorthanded as they will not have Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke. The former will still be re-evaluated while the latter is done for the season.

The Grizzlies will need Morant to have his mind right to carry them further into the playoffs.

When "G-12" injured his knee against the Golden State Warriors in last year's playoffs, the Grizzlies were done. Morant was unquestionably the Warriors' biggest headache in the series.

Without the explosive point guard, the Memphis Grizzlies remained aggressive and competitive but lacked the firepower to beat Golden State. Memphis is expected to be shorthanded in the playoffs and will badly need Morant to be at his best for them to have a chance.

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Memphis Grizzlies so far in the 2023-24 NBA season

Jazz Grizzlies Basketball (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

The Memphis Grizzlies have been awful to start the 2023-24 NBA season, along with a slew of off-the-court issues with their superstar, Ja Morant. The Grizzlies went from contending against the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs to being the 2nd worst team in the Western Conference.

Seventeen games into the season, the Grizzlies are the 14th seed in the West with a record of 4-13 without Ja, who is expected to be back soon. Morant was suspended for 25 games for flashing a gun on his IG live on two separate occasions.

Ja Morant is expected to make his season debut on the 19th of December, 2023, against the New Orleans Pelicans. A date many fans have marked and are waiting excitedly for.