Memphis Grizzlies await Ja Morant's return to FedExForum as the NBA prepares to release its 2026-27 schedule this week. The two-time All-Star point guard was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in June after seven seasons in Memphis. His first game back against Memphis could draw national TV attention and a standing ovation from fans who remember his electrifying play. Last result: Houston Rockets 132-101 Memphis Grizzlies (2026-04-13). Recent form shows the Grizzlies lost their last five games straight entering the offseason.
What happens when Ja Morant returns to Memphis?
Ja Morant's return to Memphis will be a major storyline regardless of where it occurs. If the Grizzlies and Trail Blazers meet in Portland first, some of the anticipation may fade before he steps on the FedExForum floor. A homecoming game in Memphis would allow the franchise to honor his seven-year tenure with a tribute video and likely a standing ovation. The Grizzlies may not get many nationally televised games this season but Morant's return is a prime candidate for broadcast consideration. His ability to score in the paint and hit perimeter shots made him one of the most exciting players in franchise history.
Which other former Grizzlies will face Memphis this season?
Jaren Jackson Jr. has yet to play against the Grizzlies since his February trade to the Utah Jazz despite receiving his tribute video earlier this year. A matchup between Jackson and rookie Cam Boozer could develop into an intriguing individual battle inside the paint. Desmond Bane will finally get his chance to return to FedExForum after facing Memphis twice in Europe last season. Santi Aldama, traded to the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, will also make his first appearance against Memphis since the deal. Former head coach Taylor Jenkins, now with the Milwaukee Bucks, adds another layer to the reunion narrative if his first game against Memphis occurs in Tennessee.
Will the Grizzlies host another MLK Day game?
The Memphis Grizzlies have become synonymous with the NBA's Martin Luther King Jr. Day schedule since relocating from Vancouver in 2001. They have been left off the MLK Day slate only twice in franchise history, one of those exceptions coming last season when the team played two regular-season games in Europe. With a new generation of players including Cedric Coward and continued development of young talent, the Grizzlies aim to return to the MLK Day spotlight. Hosting a game on that holiday would reinforce their legacy as a staple of the NBA's celebration of Dr. King's legacy while providing a prime-time opportunity to showcase their evolving roster.
