Suspending Ja Morant didn't have the desired result? That's weird

Ja Morant played hard but appeared to be acting quite petulant in media availability following his first game back from a 1-game suspension. This does not appear to be getting better. Good morning. Let's basketball.

If you're curious as to whether Ja Morant took personal responsibility for the events that led to the Memphis Grizzlies suspending him for a game, the answer is an emphatic ... shrug. That's basically what a dejected-looking Morant did throughout his media availability after the Grizzlies' Monday loss to the Pistons.

Morant's definitely getting at something by telling the reporters that "they" – the coaches? the front office? – already answered these questions, perhaps merely that he refuses to give the same prepared lines about moving forward, or whatever. His defiant response to the question about whether he regrets how we played on Friday – basically accusing the reporter of baiting him, when it's totally a legitimate question for which fans should be eager to hear Morant's response – tells me that Ja really isn't happy that he was suspended. Nothing about this shows regret, or embarrassment, or contrition.

Ja doesn't owe anyone that, especially if he doesn't feel any of it. But as the leader and face of a team, someone who has literally put his name on the backs of thousands of Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi kids in the Memphis metro, and someone who has been shown a heaping pile of grace by this very front office through his other disciplinary issues, many stemming from the big bad league office, this is all disappointing.

If something's going on off the court with Ja that is feeding his lack of joy and patience, I hope he gets help. If this is all about the team trading Desmond Bane for draft picks and installing an abnormal* coach, then it's on Morant to decide whether to get with the program or rip off the tape and ask for a trade.