Ja Morant ☆ Follow

Starts 2 of 2 games · 4th on POR in minutes · Core role

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• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 5 points · 7 h ago
  • Mike Richman: Ja Morant played just under 27 minutes and Damian Lillard about 32-33. Morant shot 5 of 13 (1 of 8 from three) and Lillard 7 of 18 (2 of 10 from three). at 18:06
  • Mike Richman: With 1:50 left, Jrue Holiday replaced Ja Morant. Portland played three possessions (two defensive, one offensive) with Lillard, Holiday, Camara, Avdija and Clingan. These were not offense-defense swaps. at 15:40
  • Jason Quick (The Athletic) (reported): Jason Quick of The Athletic reported that in the final 45 seconds Micah Nori used offense-defense subs, taking Lillard and Damian Lillard and Ja Morant off at stoppages for better defenders and putting them back in for offense. at 13:39
  • Mike Richman: Host analysis: Lillard and Morant are a dicey defensive pairing, and when neither is going on offense their defensive shortcomings matter. at 12:46
  • Mike Richman: The host implies the starters were Lillard, Morant, Camara, Avdija and Clingan and credits that group with winning the second half. at 25:09

  “Trail Blazers' 3rd Quarter Surge Enough to Down Kings | The Depth Delivers & Crunch Time Choices” · listen ↗

• Podcast Blazers coach (reported), via Numbers on the Board · Relayed report · 39 h ago around the league

  Blazers: the head coach had said starting Ja Morant didn't make sense. A report a couple hours before the game said Ja wouldn't start, then another right before tip said he would. A host speculated the front office may have been behind it.

  “20 Things We Have Learned So Far | Numbers On The Board” at 1:41:19 · listen ↗

• Podcast Gil's Arena · 4 points · 43 h ago
  • Ja Morant made his Blazers debut after being traded by the Grizzlies this offseason. There was preseason talk of bringing him off the bench, but he and Lillard both started the opener. at 29:32
  • The panel says there were reports before the opener that Morant would come off the bench, and that those reports were quickly shut down. at 34:53
  • Lillard scored 25 points with six threes and six assists in only 24 minutes. Morant had 14 points, 8 assists and 3 steals on 6-of-8 shooting. at 30:35
  • A panelist strongly criticizes the idea of bringing Morant off the bench, calling him the most talented player on the team. He calls the idea media pressure rather than basketball pressure. at 35:21

  “Sixers Erase A MASSIVE 29-Point Deficit, SGA Ends His Streak & Jaylen Brown Calls CAP On Tatum!_1 Part 2” · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Report · 44 h ago around the league

  The Blazers' starting lineup with Damian Lillard and Morant went up 17-0 on the Suns in the first five minutes. Portland won 124-83 after leading by as much as 52.

  “Sixers Thrive + Jamal Murray down bad? | Slam N Jam” at 6:10 · listen ↗

• Podcast Hardwood Knocks host · Report · Oct 24 around the league

  Ty Jerome opened the season with 45 points for Memphis (implied by the comparison to Ja Morant). A host says Jerome 'absolutely is' a clear starting-caliber player so far.

  “The 2026-27 NBA Overreactions Draft!” at 1:33:04 · listen ↗

• Podcast The Mismatch · 3 points · Oct 23
  • Jerome's total was the third-most points in a Memphis Grizzlies game, behind only Ja Morant and Desmond Bane. at 12:53
  • Ja (Morant) had 14 points on 6-of-8, 2-of-3 from three, and 8 assists. A host thought 'like 22 minutes'; another said 23; he did not play the fourth quarter. Discussed right after Lillard as the same game, which opened 21-0. He opened by passing to Deni Avdija. name not confirmed at 27:17
  • Jerami Grant scored 15 off the bench. Ja Morant had 14, 8 and 5 in limited minutes. at 44:23

  “The Return of Loves and Loathes. Plus: A Historic Thursday Night.” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 3 points · Oct 23
  • Mike Richman: Host analysis: having several players who can create advantages off the dribble (Lillard, Morant, Avdija) means off-ball players get less attention. at 15:41
  • Mike Richman: The host says the starters' first shift, and Ja Morant in particular, was very physical and committed on defense. at 17:55
  • Mike Richman: Matchups: Lillard guarded "Dylan Brooks" and Morant guarded Jalen Green early. The host asks why the Suns did not test Morant with pick-and-rolls and expects future opponents may do so. at 18:18

  “Trail Blazers Were Spectacular in Game 1. What's Real & What's Noise After a Special Opening Night?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Zach Lowe, The Zach Lowe Show · Analysis · Oct 22 around the league

  Lowe doubts how far the Suns can go if Maluach and Ighodaro are the center pairing and play like this. He still has Phoenix as a play-in team. He also says Morant and Dame looked okay together for Portland.

  “Opening Night Overreactions, Alarming Trends, Hot Takes, and More!” at 47:46 · listen ↗

• Story CBS Sports · Article · Oct 22

  NBA one-game overreactions: The Warriors need to trade Stephen Curry, Ja Morant is a perfect fit in Portland

  source ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily · 3 points · Oct 22
  • Ja Morant is back. Portland started him alongside Lillard, and he had 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and a game-high plus-33. at 14:43
  • Mark Spears (reported): Per Amick, Mark Spears reported that Ja Morant is likely coming off the bench. Amick says that makes sense. at 41:15
  • Sam Amick (reported): Amick says the Blazers coach's contract has only one guaranteed season, leaving him without typical organizational backing for tough calls such as benching Morant, a two-time All-Star who has never come off the bench. at 43:50

  “Wolves Make a Big Statement in Miami + Luka’s Showtime Era Begins” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On NBA · 2 points · Oct 22
  • Blazers beat the Suns 124-83 after starting 17-0 and leading 38-8 in the first quarter. The game was the debut of Ja Morant and the return of Damian Lillard. at 17:48
  • Gavin (inferred) had questions about Ja and Dame starting next to each other, but says the spacing was pristine. name not confirmed at 19:06

  “GAME NIGHT: Ant/LaMelo SHINE in Debut, Luka talks trash, Ty Jerome goes OFF” · listen ↗

• X Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) · Report · Oct 22

  "(Donovan) Clingan hit a couple. Then Ja (Morant) hit one, Deni (Avdija) hit one I think from the right side. Those felt like they were contested and then we couldn't any force offensively. They were great, they were physical defensively. Their big was back in drop. Got to make a

  original post ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 8 points · Oct 22
  • The host says Lillard scored mostly on catch-and-shoot shots and looked comfortable off the ball, and that the plan is for him to shoot threes and use off-ball back screens while Morant drives and kicks. at 3:43
  • Morant had 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 turnover on 6-of-8 shooting in under 23 minutes, with no free-throw attempts. at 23:00
  • The host thought Morant was physical and active on defense early. He did not think Morant showed a crazy burst on drives, but said Morant still got where he wanted and hit two early threes. at 3:05
  • Morant and Devin Booker received offsetting technical fouls in the first quarter after jawing at each other. at 16:57
  • Ja Morant (reported): Morant said that before the game Lillard reminded him of what people think about them, and he declined to elaborate. He also said you only get one first impression and he wanted to set the tone. at 17:08
  • Ja Morant (reported): Morant said he and Donovan Clingan got juiced up by the crowd during Lillard's pregame address. at 7:10
  • Open question: how often Lillard, Morant and Avdija ("Danny") share the floor. The host started tracking it but dropped it once the game became a blowout. at 27:17
  • The host summarizes the criticism of the Lillard-Morant pairing (too small, can't guard, only one ball). He says it may still prove true, but that it looked fantastic on this night. at 17:21

  “Trail Blazers Scorch Suns in Season Opener | Damian Lillard's Return to Portland & Ja Morant's Debut” · listen ↗

• X Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) · Report · Oct 21

  AVAILABLE: Deni Avdija (right ankle soreness) and Micah Potter (illness). Blazers starting lineup: Ja Morant Damian Lillard Deni Avdija Toumani Camara Donovan Clingan #RipCity

  original post ↗

  also reported by Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers

• X Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) · Report · Oct 21

  Haynes: Ja Morant will start alongside Damian Lillard to begin the regular season.

  original post ↗

  also reported by Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes), Locked On Blazers host

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily · 4 points · Oct 21
  • A reporter (reported; name unclear in the audio): After the preseason, Sean Hyken posted that the coach strongly hinted Ja and Dame would both start on opening night. This was a hint, not a confirmation. at 29:07
  • Portland traded for Ja ('jaw trade'). The host said Portland gave up Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. at 29:44
  • Host's opinion: if the Ja experiment fails there are no outs because of his contract. He also said Portland has a first-year coach with no guarantees beyond this season, and that this is Dame's first season back in Portland. at 30:45
  • The host will watch how many minutes Ja and Dame share in week one, and whether those lineups can survive defensively or find enough offense with Avdija. at 31:27

  “BIG NBA Questions: Slam N Jam LIVE!” · listen ↗

• Podcast Hardwood Knocks host · Analysis · Oct 21 around the league

  A host says Ja Morant and Damian Lillard are presumably starting and/or playing a lot of minutes together in Portland.

  “2026-27 NBA Awards Predictions AND Wild Card Picks” at 25:51 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 6 points · Oct 21
  • Mike Richman: Context for the opener: Damian Lillard returns, Ja Morant makes his debut, and Micah Nori coaches his first real game as head coach. The game is at the Moda Center. name not confirmed at 1:35
  • Mike Richman: The host expects Dylan Brooks to probably start out guarding Deni Avdija. He notes Avdija was too fast for Brooks last year. He asks who on the Suns guards Morant and Lillard. at 8:55
  • Mike Richman: The host does not expect the Blazers to trade Damian Lillard or Ja Morant, though he acknowledges trades are possible. at 20:04
  • Mike Richman: The host expects Damian Lillard and Ja Morant to play a fair amount, including some minutes together. He thinks the Blazers will be pretty bad defensively in those shared minutes. at 20:08
  • Mike Richman: The host thinks the Lillard– Jrue Holiday pairing is the Blazers' best mix of shooting and defense at guard. He says Scoot Henderson might grow into that role, and he doesn't think Morant will become a special shooter. at 28:13
  • Mike Richman: The host thinks Ja Morant at his best is much better than Toumani Camara, but says we haven't seen that version in a couple of years. at 27:54

  “Trail Blazers vs. Suns Season Opener Preview | Bold Predictions and The Disappearing Lineup Trick” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers host · Analysis · Oct 20

  Live show: Avdija kicking out to Ja Morant instead of Chris Murray makes a big difference, even with both called non-shooters. The point is part of the Avdija spacing argument.

  “Scoot Henderson is Set Up for a Prove It Year After Not Signing an Extension with the Trail Blazers” at 32:25 · listen ↗

• Podcast Zach Lowe, The Zach Lowe Show · Analysis · Oct 19 around the league

  Zach is a little worried about the fit of Jalen Green in Phoenix. He is very worried about Morant in Portland, who is playing off the ball a lot. In one preseason game Morant passed up a soft-closeout three off a Lillard ('Dame') kick-out and drove into a wall.

  “Knicks Preview, Playoff Picks, Finals Predictions, and More!” at 42:20 · listen ↗

• Podcast Hardwood Knocks · 2 points · Oct 19
  • Portland acquired Ja Morant. at 39:54
  • Mort would stagger Avdija and Morant and wouldn't worry about splitting minutes between them. He notes Avdija had back problems last year, so fewer drives could be good for him. at 42:11

  “1 Big Question For Every NBA Teams In The Western Conference” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 5 points · Oct 19
  • Mike Richman: The offense came fairly easily. Damian Lillard got to the free-throw line, and Ja Morant hit outside jumpers and also got to the line. at 3:10
  • Mike Richman: The host predicts that with Lillard and Morant on the court the team will be worse on defense and probably much better on offense. at 5:51
  • Mike Richman: Ja Morant had some nice steals in preseason, but the host wouldn't count on that rescuing the defense. at 7:13
  • Mike Richman: Micah Nori gave each available point guard a solo stretch without the other stars, alongside Vit Krejci, Toumani Camara, Sidy Cissoko and a center. That center was mostly Carlson with some Donovan Clingan. The solo guards were Scoot Henderson, Lillard and Morant. The host reads this as intentional experimentation. name not confirmed at 16:43
  • Mike Richman: Backup centers rotated by quarter: Yang Hansen took the first-quarter minutes and Branden Carlson the second-quarter minutes. In the third, Portland went small with Camara and Sidy Cissoko as the bigs, alongside Krejci, Morant and Scoot Henderson. at 17:25

  “Trail Blazers Struggle in Preseason Finale vs Golden State Warriors | Portland Waives Jeremy Sochan” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 4 points · Oct 16
  • The Blazers traded for Ja Morant. The guest says the trade cost them Jeremy Grant and Chris Murray. at 2:35
  • The guest sees the Morant trade as a high-upside play: maybe it works, or if he plays well he could be flipped for more value. at 2:41
  • The guest says no reasonable observer saw Ja Morant as an instantly terrific fit with this roster. at 2:48
  • Mike Richman: The host thinks Jeremy Grant would have been valuable next to Morant because the team could use another big, another forward and a standstill shooter, but says Morant is the better player. at 3:38

  “Trail Blazers Outlook: Adding Ja Morant, Scoot Henderson's Upside, Deni Avdija's Ascension and More” · listen ↗

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