Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant beams after playing for free against the Bucks

On By Littum

The last two games wouldn’t make Ja Morant more cautious.

No.

The Memphis Grizzlies star played Thursday night like a player with no conscience. But in a good way

Morant drove to the basket with the ball in his left hand. Rookie Grizzlies center Zach Edey ran down the middle of the floor, close behind, with all the attention on Morant. Suddenly, Morant threw a pass off the backboard that slipped out of Edey’s hands.

Think that was the craziest Morant pass of the day? No.

Earlier in the game, Morant was on the floor surrounded by Bucks players trying to take the ball out of his hands. Morant made a couple of pump fakes before launching an alley-oop to Santi Aldama as he sat on the floor.

“I thought it was crazy,” Grizzlies point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. said. “I don’t even know why he tried.”

Pippen would not have attempted the second pass. Maybe not even Edey’s, but that’s the kind of play that makes Morant special.

The star Grizzlies point guard shined Thursday night at FedExForum. He finished with 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds to secure his 12th career triple-double.

The key to the performance was “playing free,” Morant said. He didn’t guess the pass with Edey, to Aldama or any of the dazzling moments from Thursday’s 122-99 win.

“I play free,” Morant said. “With me, you have to handle the turnover. I always try to make the right play.”

Morant’s appearance was timely. The Grizzlies (3-3) had lost two straight games against teams they were favored to beat.

The atmosphere in the dressing room after Wednesday’s defeat was disappointing, and it did not improve with the mounting injuries. Starters Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart left early Wednesday, and neither was available Thursday. The Grizzlies are currently awaiting updates that will provide more clarity on their timelines to return.

It was time for Morant to be the superstar. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins increased his workload and gave him longer rotation periods. The result was that Morant was plus-29 in 29 minutes.

“He’s been building up to this and this has been part of our plan that’s been rolled out,” Jenkins said. “He missed a game a couple of nights ago. This has been six (games) in nine (days), so how he responded… but at a high pace.”

Damichael Cole is the one Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.