Desmond Bane issues honest take on Ja Morant's return game with Grizzlies

Tuesday night, the Memphis Grizzlies took part in a truly historic event, as superstar Ja Morant made his return to the hardwood following a 25-game suspension and subsequently went on to drop a whopping 34-point performance, the most ever for a player coming back from such an extensive absence.

From his electrifying finishes to his two-way tenacity, the point guard's 2023-24 debut outing against the Pelicans was undoubtedly special and received a fairytale finish with his walk-off floater to beat the buzzer and give Grind City a 115-113 win, their first in two weeks.

With this, it should come as no surprise that all attention was drawn toward Morant's heroics, with both teammates and opponents singing his praise during postgame pressers.

Naturally, Desmond Bane was found talking up his backcourt cohort in his presser, delving into the difference he makes for the Grizzlies when found in the lineup.

Desmond Bane says Grizzlies feel 'different' with Ja Morant back

"It felt different out there having our guy back, out leader. He does so much for us on the court of course but the spirit and the energy and all that he plays with it infectious."

- Desmond Bane on Ja Morant

Bane would continue on to state that throughout their first 25 games of the year without their centerpiece, the Grizzlies had found themselves "down" on numerous occasions, saying they would "make a run and then a team will throw another punch and it's tough to overcome and come back."

With Morant back in the fold, however, their "calling card" of resiliency was on full display and was specifically exemplified in the second half after having been down 19 when the guard seemingly erupted, dropping a mesmerizing 27 points in the final two periods, giving the team their first lead since the first quarter at the 1:20 mark in the fourth, and, ultimately, sent the final blow to NOLA with his epic buzzer-beating floater.

Adding the star guard back in the fold, the Grizzlies appeared to more closely resemble the teams that had won 102 games combined over the last two year rather than the 6-18 cellar dwellers they performed as during these infancy stages of the season without him.

Hopefully, Tuesday's bout against the Pelicans is a sign that his presence can help bring Memphis on a successful voyage down the road to redemption and toward their fourth consecutive playoff berth come year's end.