Taylor Jenkins: Grizzlies Anticipate Ja Morant Returning from Suspension vs. Rockets

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is expected to play in Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets at FedExForum, head coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters Tuesday.

Morant has missed the last nine games, eight of which were included in a suspension, while away from the team after he live-streamed a video of himself flashing a gun at a Denver nightclub on March 4. He used some of his time away to receive counseling in Florida.

The NBA launched an investigation into Morant following the nightclub incident and suspended him for "conduct detrimental to the league." The investigation "did not conclude that the gun at issue belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period."

Morant was also the subject of a police investigation, but no criminal charges were filed.

The two-time All-Star entered a counseling program in Florida after releasing a statement saying that he was going "to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being."

Morant addressed his time away from basketball during an interview with former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Jalen Rose last week:

"The gun wasn't mine. It's not who I am. I don't condone any type of violence, but I take full responsibility for my actions. Made a bad mistake. I can see an image I've painted over myself with my recent mistakes. But, in the future, I'm gonna show everybody who Ja really is, what I'm about and change this narrative."

Morant was eligible to return from his suspension on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks, but the Grizzlies held him out as he wasn't able to work out while he was away from the team.

The 23-year-old still took the time to address his teammates and the coaching staff on Monday. Dillon Brooks told reporters after Memphis' 112-108 loss to Dallas that Morant apologized each player individually:

"He's holding himself accountable. He's made some changes in his life. ... He's taking ownership of it, which is just a great thing for his growth, for his basketball career, for everything. You're going to see a different Ja out there who's going to be consistent every single night and who's going to give us that energy that we need to be that top team in the West."

Morant's return comes at the perfect time for the Grizzlies, which went 6-3 in his absence. Memphis has 11 games remaining in the regular season and holds a one game lead over the Sacramento Kings for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 44-27 record.

Before stepping away from the team, Morant was averaging 27.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 53 games while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from deep. He'll be expected to pick up right where he left off.