Ja Morant is calling Thursday night’s meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies exactly what it looks like on paper: another game.
On the eve of his first matchup against the team that traded him to Portland last summer, Morant said he’s leaving any bitterness out of it. The Blazers guard said he’s “not a big grudge guy” and made it clear he isn’t carrying extra heat into the opener against his old club.
“Nothing harsh from me for Memphis. At all,” Morant told reporters Wednesday, including The Athletic’s Jason Quick.
Morant’s Portland debut against Memphis will come after seven seasons with the Grizzlies, who selected him No. 2 overall in 2019. He became the face of the franchise quickly, helping Memphis reach four playoff appearances and producing the kind of individual résumé that put him among the league’s brightest young stars. In that stretch, he picked up two All-Star selections, an All-NBA second-team nod, Most Improved Player honors and Rookie of the Year.
The on-court success was real. The deeper story, though, was less stable.
Morant’s time in Memphis was marked by multiple suspensions for conduct detrimental to the team, and his relationship with the organization reportedly grew strained. He also reportedly clashed last season with Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo. Those issues ultimately played a role in the trade that sent him to Portland.
Morant acknowledged that part of the story Wednesday, while also pushing back on the idea that everything fell on him alone.
“Obviously, (the Grizzlies were) at a great point … and obviously, I got into trouble,” Morant said. “And the dominoes pretty much went from there.
Guys started getting traded. New guys coming in … and then it came to me.
I take responsibility for stuff that I caused, but it wasn't all me.”
He enters the matchup in good form with the Blazers, averaging 16.3 points on 58.8% shooting, including 44.4% from 3-point range, over three games. Portland is also off to a 3-0 start, matching Memphis, which comes in at 4-0.
Thursday’s game is set for the Moda Center in Portland, and the Grizzlies won’t see Morant in Memphis until Feb. 6.
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