Ja Morant kept tabs on his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, during their preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks on October 5. The Portland Trail Blazers guard posted a video to his Instagram story from the game's first quarter, tagging current Grizzlies Scotty Pippen Jr. and GG Jackson. This comes as Memphis aims to turn the page after a tough end to last season, which included a 132-101 loss to the Houston Rockets on April 13, 2026.
Morant's social media activity provided a clear connection to his old squad. He was traded to Portland in July after seven seasons in Memphis, a deal that brought Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Grizzlies. Before the trade, Morant was the longest-tenured player on the roster, having been selected second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. His Instagram story, shared during live game action, showed he remains engaged with the team's progress even from a distance.
Pippen Jr. and Jackson, the players Morant tagged, are now the veteran leaders. They're entering their fourth seasons with Memphis, making them the longest-tenured Grizzlies. Morant's new team, the Trail Blazers, began their own preseason schedule on October 7 against the Golden State Warriors.
Morant's departure marks the definitive end of an era. The Grizzlies are now building around a different core, and the preseason is their first real test. The team's recent form shows the need for a fresh start. Their last five regular-season games of the 2025-26 campaign resulted in a, 1W-4L record (LLLLW), including that heavy 132-101 defeat to Houston to close the season.
Other recent results were equally challenging: a 126-142 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 7, a 131-115 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks on April 5, and a 105-131 loss to the Phoenix Suns on March 31. Their lone win in that stretch was a narrow 125-124 victory over the Chicago Bulls on March 29. This context makes preseason evaluation and player development critical for head coach Taylor Jenkins.
The immediate focus is on the preseason and integrating new pieces like Grant and Murray. But the regular-season schedule already has notable dates circled. Morant will face his former team three times. The Grizzlies travel to Portland on October 29. Then, Morant makes his anticipated return to FedExForum for games on February 6 and February 8, 2027.
Those matchups will be emotional for fans and a measuring stick for the remodeled roster. For now, the team must use exhibition games to establish an identity without their former star. The work to move past a difficult end to last season, defined by four consecutive losses, begins now.
