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Everything Ja Morant said during Memphis Grizzlies' end of season media availability
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- Everything Ja Morant said during Memphis Grizzlies' end of season media availability
Ja Morant's 2023-2024 NBA season never got off the ground.
First, he was suspended for the first 25 games of the season for conduct detrimental to the league. Then, after returning with a game-winning shot against the Pelicans , he played in only nine games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
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That injury — part of an injury crisis that also included long-term problems for Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart — derailed a Grizzlies ' season that began with high expectations.
Morant had not played or spoken with the media since early January, but he took part in the Grizzlies' end of season media availability on Monday morning. He discussed his mindset watching from the bench in 2023-2024, his offseason plans and his new AAU team.
Here's everything Morant said on Monday.
On where Ja Morant is mentally after last season
"Early on, obviously, it's tough. First time having an injury that really sat me out for a season. So that process was kind of hard. But as far as how I am mentally, now, it's just motivated."
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On watching the Memphis Grizzlies games from the bench
"It's frustrating. Obviously I always want to be out there, fighting with the team. I couldn't, which I had to deal with. Definitely frustrating, wanting to be out there but can't and then you see everything else going on."
On how being around the team helped during his suspension/injury
"It definitely helped me a lot. Obviously, pretty much made my life normal on what I would normally do outside of playing games. Being able to travel, being in practices, shootaround, even on the bench during the games, helped me a lot to still be around the guys and still be around basketball."
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On his injury rehab throughout the offseason
"Just attacking my rehab at a high level. Obviously, it could be that, but it depends on — how I go about my offseason determines when I come back."
On working with young players
"Pretty much, whenever I felt like it was needed. Obviously we had guys in different roles as of late, second half of the season due to guys being out. It's different. Obviously it's going to be some tough nights where shots might not fall. Obviously we put guys like GG (Jackson), Vince (Williams Jr.) at one point as the No. 1 option, which they probably didn't expect to happen this early on. But I feel like those guys did well. Anything I felt like they could have been better at, or do something better at, or even look for, I'd just tell them. Super excited of how everybody came in and stepped up and played hard and at a high level for us. It's exciting to see, and hopefully it gives them a lot of confidence to show them they can do it."
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On his belief that this team can win a title
"I think we can do it next season, honestly, God willing, everybody stays healthy. As far as any other thing that goes on about the roster, I think that's above me."
On Derrick Rose 's impact
"A tremendous impact. He's pretty much a big brother. His locker's right beside mine, so we pretty much get to the gym around the same time, always talking basketball. It's an honor I've got his son playing for my AAU team right now, so it's an even deeper relationship there. But he's been big time for me. Like I said earlier, I've never had an injury that set me out for the season, and he had a couple. Being able to have him there to help me through this process was big time."
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On his decision to switch agents
"I will be, but I felt like it was time."
On his growth as a player going into next season
"We'll figure it out when that time comes. Right now, my focus is on getting back to being cleared. It's going to be two, three months, but until then that's my main focus."
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On his priorities during the summer with rehab and his AAU team
"I'm going to be here until I'm cleared to start my process. Outside of the weekends, traveling with my AAU team, I'll be right here, with y'all."
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On his new AAU team
"It's been big time. I want to shout out the parents of the kids, also the kids. My AAU team has pretty much brought some life that I needed in my life. Super excited now to actually be able to travel to all the tournaments and be there with them. The goal is just to push the youth and continue to get them better and get them looks."
On Jaren Jackson Jr 's improvement
"It just shows what he can do as the No. 1 option. I've seen it from the jump. I'm not even surprised."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What Ja Morant said after end of Memphis Grizzlies' season
