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SPORTS Tuesday 21 March 2023
Ja Morant ready to rejoin Grizzlies, NBA suspension over

By TERESA M. WALKER change this narrative that
AP Sports Writer everybody got.”
Ja Morant’s eight-game Morant, whose suspension
NBA suspension is over, and cost him $669,000 in salary
the two-time All-Star guard and possibly a chance to
may rejoin the Memphis max out the five-year con-
Grizzlies. tract he signed last July by
He is expected on the making the All-NBA team,
bench Monday night when also has to keep working
Memphis hosts Dallas, on himself away from bas-
though it’s unclear exactly ketball.
when he’ll play, with the Morant said he underwent
earliest being Wednesday. counseling during his sus-
The Grizzlies announced pension.
Sunday that Morant would “He’d probably be the first
not play against the Mav- one to tell you: ‘Nothing is
ericks because of a “Return going to change immedi-
to Competition Recondi- ately overnight. I’m going
tioning.” to learn and grow, but I’m
The Grizzlies know Morant going to get the skills and
has been working out, try- methods to do that both
ing to be ready for this personally and profession-
moment. Memphis was ally,’” Jenkins said.
off Sunday after back-to- On the court, the Griz-
back wins, and coach Tay- zlies are pleased with the
lor Jenkins said he would Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) plays in the second half of an NBA basketball game growth of the 23-year-old
like Morant to practice or Friday, March 3, 2023, in Denver. Associated Press Morant. After Memphis se-
at least participate in a lected him with the No. 2
shootaround before seeing away from the team “holding a firearm in an Morant said in an ESPN in- draft pick in 2019, he was
game action. March 4, hours after he intoxicated state” but did terview on March 15 that named the 2020 NBA Rook-
“We’ll see when he gets livestreamed himself on In- not prove the gun was the gun was not his and ie of the Year and last year
back in the team environ- stagram displaying a gun owned by Morant “or was that he takes full responsi- earned NBA Most Improved
ment,” Jenkins said Satur- at strip club in Colorado fol- displayed by him beyond a bility for his actions. Player honors.
day night before the Griz- lowing a game against the brief period.” The NBA also But the strip club incident He still ranks ninth in the
zlies beat Golden State Denver Nuggets. The Griz- did not find that Morant wasn’t Morant’s first eye- league averaging 27.1
133-119. “Our anticipation zlies said on March 8 that had the gun with him on brow-raising move. The points and has six triple-
is he’s at least out for Mon- Morant would be sidelined Memphis’ flight to Denver, Grizzlies had been talking doubles this season.
day. We’ll cross the bridge for four more games. or that he possessed the with Morant about his off- He rejoins a Memphis team
on Wednesday as we get a Morant met with NBA Com- gun in any NBA facility. court conduct even before in the middle of a competi-
little bit closer.” missioner Adam Silver in Police in Colorado con- the March 4 incident. tive postseason race. The
The Grizzlies host Houston New York before the NBA ducted their own investiga- “I can see the image that Grizzlies, who were second
on Wednesday in the first announced his suspension tion and concluded there I painted over myself with in the Western Conference
of two consecutive games on March 15, including six was no reason to charge my recent mistakes,” Mo- before the March 4 inci-
against the Rockets in games he already had Morant with a crime after rant told ESPN. “But in the dent, are tied with Sacra-
Memphis. missed. looking into the circum- future, I’m going to show mento — four games back
Memphis went 5-3 without The league investigation stances surrounding the everybody who Ja really of West-leading Denver
Morant, who first stepped found that Morant was video. is, what I’m about and with 12 games remaining.q

Alcaraz at No. 1; Nadal out of top 10, 1st time in 18 years

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) a set in the hard-court tour- top 10 that began in April
— Carlos Alcaraz returned nament. 2005. It is the longest such
to No. 1 in the ATP rankings Djokovic has spent more run in the ATP; Jimmy Con-
on Monday, replacing No- weeks at No. 1 than any nors is next on the list with
vak Djokovic, and Rafael man or woman in tennis his- about 15 years.
Nadal dropped out of the tory. He did not play in Indi- Djokovic and Nadal cur-
top 10 for the first time in 18 an Wells because he is not rently share the men’s re-
years. allowed to enter the United cord of 22 Grand Slam sin-
Alcaraz rose one spot, States as a foreign citizen gles titles.
swapping places with who is not vaccinated Elena Rybakina’s straight-
Djokovic, a day after end- against COVID-19. He also set victory over Aryna Sa-
ing Daniil Medvedev’s will miss the Miami Open balenka for the Indian Wells
19-match winning streak that begins this week; Al- trophy pushed Rybakina
by beating him in straight caraz is the defending up three spots to a career-
sets in the final at Indian champion there. high No. 7 in the WTA rank-
Wells, California. Alcaraz, Nadal has been sidelined ings. Iga Swiatek remained Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates after defeating Daniil
a 19-year-old from Spain since January by an injured at No. 1, followed by Sa- Medvedev, of Russia, in the men’s singles final at the BNP
who first ascended to No. hip flexor and he slipped balenka, who defeated Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 19, 2023, in
1 by winning the U.S. Open four spots to No. 13 on Mon- Rybakina in the Australian Indian Wells, Calif.
in September, didn’t drop day, ending a stay in the Open final in January.q Associated Press