The Memphis Grizzlies won a thrilling season-opening game at home against the New Orleans Pelicans to begin the 2025-26 regular season. They trailed by 15 points in the first quarter and 11 at halftime before outscoring the Pelicans by 19 points in the third quarter en route to their comeback victory.
Ja Morant, specifically, began one of the most important seasons of his career with 35 points on 13-20 shooting, including some clutch baskets down the stretch to hold off the Pelicans' late-game run. His 24 points in the second half were more than he scored in the Grizzlies' season-opener last season at the Utah Jazz, when he scored 22 points in their victory.
Last season's season-opener marked only the second time in Morant's career that he has scored less than 34 points in a season opener since he entered the league in 2019. That key stat also has Ja Morant atop an NBA scoring category in season-opening games for his career.
Ja Morant has the highest PPG in season openers in NBA history
The first game of the season is almost always a guarantee to see a masterclass in scoring from Ja Morant. After scoring only 14 points in his first-ever season opener during his rookie season in 2019, he has scored 44, 37, 34, 22, and now 35 in his last five season-openers for a 31.0 points per game average.
There are only three active players (Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, and Jayson Tatum) who are in the top 10 in that category, which is led by Morant. Also, this stat doesn't include the 2023-24 season when he missed the first 25 games due to suspension. His first game that season was on December 19, 2023, which he finished with 34 points against....the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Grizzlies' star point guard proved once again why he is one of the biggest box office attractions in the league after scoring at all three levels against their divisional rivals. His elevation in play to open the regular season this year was even more special after he didn't play a minute in the preseason because of an ankle sprain.
Ja Morant is currently in a class of his own with his season-opening scoring outbursts, just ahead of the likes of Michael Jordan (30.8) and Wilt Chamberlain (30.2), who are the top two in the same order in career points per game. That is a high honor for the seventh-year guard who looks to continue those efforts into the rest of the regular season.