Point guard Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies came back to play on Tuesday, and “The King” was happy to see him. 

LeBron James, a celebrity for the Los Angeles Lakers, wrote on X that he supported Morant’s return after his 25-game ban for posting pictures of gu𝚗s on social media. 

“Welcome back!!” James sent out a tweet with the emoji number 12 to represent Morant’s jersey number. “Go be GREAT again!!”

As required by his ban, Morant has been able to train and travel with the team and take part in morning shoot-arounds. But he hasn’t been allowed to be with the team in the field on game days. 

Even though Morant isn’t allowed to play, head coach Taylor Jenkins has praised his work attitude. 

Jenkins told NBA.com on Friday night, “He’s been great when he hasn’t been able to play in games.” “He’s used every chance to be with his friends. He’s been pulling in with the team a lot and doing things with his friends off the court. 

Morant also talked to reporters for the first time this season last Friday. He said he’s been counting down the days until he and his teammates play again on Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. 

He also thought about why he was suspended. 

Morant said, “I feel like it made me better in the end.” “I think that process helped me learn some things about myself.” Really opened my eyes. It changed the way I see life. What I do during the day. How I walk around.”

Morant was the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft and the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020. He was banned for 33 games following two separate incidents on social media where he displayed a gu𝚗. 

The first time was in a Denver bar during his Instagram Live, where he showed off the gu𝚗 for people watching. Then, two weeks later, Morant showed the gu𝚗 again while singing on a friend’s Instagram Live. 

Aaron Morant was given a stricter ban by NBA commissioner Adam Silver after the second episode. Silver also told Morant what he needed to do during that time. 

This past week, Silver and Morant talked, and Morant said the talk went well.  

Morant is aware that what he does from now on will show that he is a different person and player. 

“I can’t, you know, make nobody believe me outside of my actions,” he said. “So me answering this question with just words probably won’t meаn nothing to nobody.”

It’s clear that the Grizzlies need Morant back on the court. They’ve had a terrible start to the season, going 6-19 after being ranked second in the Western Conference last year. 

Their first-round NBA Playoff game, though, was easy for James and the Lakers because Morant wasn’t there. 

Last season, Morant played in 61 games and averaged 26.2 points, 5.9 boards, and 8.1 assists. He was a big reason why Memphis got the playoff seed they did.