MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Saturday night's win for the Grizzlies marked the final game in Ja Morant's eight-game suspension.
On March 15, the NBA gave an official word on Ja Morant's status with the Memphis Grizzlies - suspending him for eight games, retroactive to March 4 and the incident through Instagram Live where he appeared to flash a gun in a Colorado nightclub.
This means Ja is eligible to make a return Monday night when the team takes on the Mavericks at home. Still, a return that soon is looking unlikely, according to Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins.
Jenkins said the team doesn't want to rush Ja back into play.
"It's an ongoing dialogue," Jenkins said. "We'll see when he gets back into the team environment Monday. Our anticipation is that he's at least out on Monday and then we'll cross the bridge on Wednesday as we get a little bit closer."
While Monday is probably not the night for Ja's return, he could be back on the court as soon as Wednesday.
That game is another home-stand against the Houston Rockets.
Morant spoke about the incident that lead to him stepping away from the team in an interview with ESPN's Jalen Rose last week.
Morant said the gun in the video wasn't his - a detail which the NBA found inconclusive in their investigation - but the incident was a "terrible mistake"
"It's not who I am," Morant said. "I don't condone any type of violence, but I take full responsibility for my actions."
He also mentioned his daughter as motivation to improve his mental health.
"There's times where she even tells me that she's had a bad day," Morant said. "I felt like, if she can tell me that, I can be able to go and talk to somebody as well."