Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball, two of the most promising young stars in the league, are set to return to the court for the 2024-25 season after both players suffered injury setbacks last season: Morant sidelined with a shoulder injury and Ball ruled out with ongoing ankle issues.
Morant will resume his starting point guard for Memphis Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz. The centerpiece for the Grizzlies looked sharp in limited preseason action with 15 points per game on 52% shooting over two appearances.
Morant’s return is key for Memphis re-establishing itself among the top teams in the West. Prior to last season, the Grizzlies locked down the No.2 seed in the West in back-to-back years (2021-22, 2022-23). Morant was the driving force behind those campaigns and despite not advancing deep into the playoffs, the young roster gained valuable playoff experience…