Former NBA player and coach Sam Mitchell believes Ja Morant must approach the 2024-25 season with a strong sense of humility following his turbulent previous year.
“He’s got to have a sense of humility when he comes back through that door because, hey man, it’s on you,” Mitchell said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Mitchell emphasized that Morant’s absence last season wasn’t due to injury but his own decisions, which negatively impacted his team.
“You’re the one who left your teammates high and dry. You did this. They didn’t do it,” Mitchell remarked.
As Morant prepares to return to the Memphis Grizzlies, Mitchell discussed the challenges facing head coach Taylor Jenkins in reintegrating Morant into the team.
He noted that Morant cannot expect to simply walk back into the locker room and resume his role without earning back the trust and respect of his teammates.
“You can’t just walk in the door and everything starts like it was when you put your foot in and say everything revolves around me,” Mitchell cautioned. “No. You’re going to have to earn it again.”
Morant appeared in just nine games last season, averaging 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game before being sidelined.
His absence stemmed from multiple off-court incidents, including an 25-game suspension for flashing a gun during a video. These events ultimately resulted in Morant missing the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury.
“Not only does he have to walk gently when he comes back through that door, but he also has to have a sense of humility,” Mitchell reiterated.
