Last season, Ja Morant was suspended for a total of 33 games after showing a pistol on social media twice.

Point guard Ja Morant, a controversial member of the Memphis Grizzlies, returned to action on Tuesday, and “The King” welcomed him back.

The star player for the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, commented on X to express his support for Jaromier Morant’s comeback following a 25-game suspension for displaying firearms on social media.

“Welcome back!!” James tweeted the number 12 emoji before mentioning that it was Morant’s jersey number. “Go be GREAT again!!”

As stipulated under his suspension terms, Morant has been allowed to travel and practise with the squad, participating in morning shoot-arounds. He hasn’t been allowed to enter an arena with the squad on game days, though.

Morant’s work ethic has been acknowledged by head coach Taylor Jenkins, even if he isn’t permitted to play.

“He’s been awesome outside of not being able to play in the games,” Jenkins said Friday night, per NBA.com. “He’s taken every opportunity to be with his teammates. He’s been leaning into the team a lot, (doing) off-court stuff with his teammates.”

Morant also spoke with reporters this past Friday for the first time this season, saying he’s been counting down the days waiting for Tuesday night’s contest against the New Orleans Pelicans to get back out on the court with his teammates.

He thought about his suspension too.

“I feel like it made me better in the end,” Morant said. “I believe that during that process, I discovered a few things about myself. Really enlightening. It changed my perspective on life in a way. The way I spend my days. The way I conduct myself.”

Morant, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2019 as well as the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year, was suspended a combined 33 games after two separate instances where he flashed a handgun on social media.

The first occurred when he was livestreaming from a Denver nightclub on Instagram, where he displayed the firearm for his audience to see. Two weeks later, while singing along to a song on his friend’s Instagram Live, Morant once more displayed the firearm.

Following the second occurrence, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a more severe punishment and outlined the actions that Morant was required to perform during that period.

This past week, Silver and Morant had a talk, and according to the latter, everything went smoothly.

Morant is aware that his actions going forward will demonstrate that he has transformed as a player and a man.

“I can’t, you know, make nobody believe me outside of my actions,” Morant stated. “So me answering this question with just words probably won’t mean nothing to nobody.”

Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on as LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands in the background during Game Five of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at FedExForum on April 26, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

The Grizzlies, who started the season with a 6-19 record while holding the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, clearly need to get back on the court with Morant.

But in the NBA Playoffs’ opening round, James and the Lakers easily defeated them without Morant.

Morant played 61 games last season, averaging 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 8.1 assists, which played a major role in Memphis gaining the playoff seed they did.

A GREAT RETURN: In his return from a 25-game suspension, Ja Morant was greeted with boos and lead Memphis with 34pts

In New Orleans on Tuesday night, Ja Morant was not well received.

After serving a 25-game ban, Morant returned to the Grizzlies, to a mixed reception from the pro-Pelicans crowd at Smoothie King Centre. The jeers were far louder than the applause.

When Morant was introduced prior to the game in his first game action since the league punished him for the second time for brandishing a weapon on Instagram Live, he was met with laughter and jeers.

When Morant first touched the ball, he was harshly jeered. When he drove to the basket, he was eventually fouled.

He was met with more jeers as he got closer to the free-throw line, where he attempted one of two shots to score his first point of the year.

Playing 16 minutes in the first half, the 24-year-old finished with three assists, one block, one rebound, and seven points on three of his eight field goal tries.

Prior to Tuesday night’s game, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins reportedly complimented Morant for his attempts to collaborate with his teammates throughout his suspension, including during practices and through player video conferences.

“We have one of our leaders and important players back.” The group is fired up. “I’m excited,” Jenkins said. “He has worked extremely hard since the start of the season and has spent as much time as possible with the team.”

That is something he and I have talked about, so I am really looking forward to watching him go out there and just have fun,” Jenkins continued. “Create a bond with your teammates and savour the chance to play basketball again.”

On Friday, Morant said that self-analysis and counselling had improved him as a person.

The two-time All-Star stated on Friday, “I feel like I learned some stuff about myself during that process.” “This opened my eyes a lot.” It has changed my outlook on life and how I approach each day and present myself.