Freed from old constraints, Morant looks reborn — and Memphis feels his spark.
On Wednesday night, the opening night of the 2025-26 NBA season, Ja Morant reminded the basketball world exactly who he is. He poured in 35 points and delivered the go-ahead basket with just 32.9 seconds remaining to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 128-122 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
From tip-off, Morant set the tone. He attacked off the bounce, created mismatches, and refused to defer. His performance wasn’t just strong — it looked like a new chapter. He faced off with the Pelicans’ top talent and out-dueled him in this opener, asserting himself as the leader Memphis needs.
Morant is back
Over the past two seasons, Morant has battled injuries, suspensions, and uncertainty. He entered this game listed as “cleared to play” despite an ankle sprain. What he delivered Wednesday night was the answer every fan had been waiting for — the versatile shot-maker, fearless leader, the guy who can take over a game.
When the Pelicans threatened late, Morant drove, scored that critical basket with 32.9 seconds to play, then orchestrated the close. Free throws sealed the win.
Why this night matters
Under former head coach Taylor Jenkins, the Grizzlies often felt like a team built around Morant — yet one where questions lingered about whether his full talents were being unleashed. Memphis announced Jenkins’ dismissal late in the 2024-25 season with the team at 44-29. Reports emerged that Morant had grown frustrated with Memphis’ offensive scheme under Jenkins — one that shifted toward more off-ball movement and less primary creation.
So when Morant is assertive and dominant now, one clear takeaway is: he looks free.
A little shade — because context matters
It’s fair to say that under Jenkins, Morant often looked contained. Not limited in talent — far from it — but perhaps constrained in role and usage. When the guard capable of this kind of explosive takeover appears revitalized, one can’t help but wonder: what might have been had he been given full reign earlier? Jenkins helped build something in Memphis, no question. But this shift away shows Memphis believed the status quo was holding back their star.
The night’s numbers
- 35 points including that key floater with 32.9 seconds remaining.
- Grizzlies overcame a deficit, using a third-quarter 19-0 run to seize control.
- The Pelicans were led by Zion Williamson with 27 points, but Memphis held firm.
What’s next
This win doesn’t guarantee a championship. But it matters. It sets the tone. If Morant carries this momentum into the season, Memphis will have the chance to enter the postseason with the kind of star-driven energy they’ve lacked at times. The shift in coaching? The change in role? They matter, because stars don’t wait. They act.
Bottom line
Ja Morant reminded everyone: when he’s unleashed, he’s special. Wednesday night, he didn’t just play — he performed. The Grizzlies got the kind of opening-night performance their franchise desperately needed, and Morant got the kind of statement night he deserved.
If this is the start of a new era in Memphis — one where “12” is truly back and leading the charge — then the rest of the league should take note.
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