Ja Morant Goes From Suspension To Player Of The Week After Just 3 Games!

After only playing three games following his 25-game suspension, Ja Morant has already received an award! On Tuesday, the Memphis Grizzlies star was named Western Conference Player of the Week!

Tuesday afternoon, the NBA announced that Morant, 24, has won the title of Western Conference Player of the Week, just three games after his return to the court following his 25-game suspension. This is his third time being named player of the week in his career.

Morant led his team to a 3-0 record in his first three games back from suspension, averaging 28 PPG. His first game back last Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, he had a 34-point performance that included a buzzer beater to win the game. His next game, he scored 20 points against the Indiana Pacers and then 30 points in his third game back against Atlanta.

Other Western Conference nominees were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Jamal Murray, Domantas Sabonis and Anthony Edwards.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid won the award for the Eastern Conference. Other nominees for the Eastern Conference Player of the Week were Jarrett Allen, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyler Herro, Tyrese Maxey, Trae Young, DeMar DeRozan and Derrick White.

NBA fans chimed in on Morant's award on Official NBA Buzz's Instagram post. Some were happy to see Morant get the Player of the Week award and others felt someone else should have gotten it.

"So not Luka or even AD?, don't get me wrong I'm happy for Ja but Luka and AD both been doing so amazing especially Luka and it still baffles me how he’s not even top 3 for the MVP race??‍♂️," one person wrote.

Another added, "The NBA only selected JA so that they can make it look like all is well cause they will lose money if one of their superstars continues to carry a bad image."

Just before Morant's much anticipated return to the court following his 25-game suspension for flashing a firearm during a livestream for the second time this year, the NBA star opened up about what he learned during his time suspended.

"It’s been a process. Obviously thankful for, you know, the support I had during this time. Obviously, it’s not easy, you know, not being out there on the floor and having to watch, but you know with everything else, being around the team, being able to practice, being able to travel, the guys just constantly talking to me and vice versa, it’s been good," he told reporters during his first public presser since his suspension began.

"I’ve pretty much just been focusing on me, honestly, outside of the basketball stuff. But basketball-wise, just becoming more a leader with my talk."

Morant was laying low on social media during much of his suspension, but in the weeks prior to his return, he began posting more. He said he was working on "protecting his peace" and said the months while suspended were "tough."

"It was definitely tough, some horrible days. It was tough, but like I said to start this, with the support that I had throughout this process, it definitely helped me a lot. It’s pretty much all I could lean on at that time," he said.

"Obviously, basketball is something I’ve been doing pretty much my whole life. Something that’s therapeutic for me. Obviously taking that away, it makes it tougher. But, like I said, I had the right people around me, from my family to the organization and to my other partners that helped me along in the process."

Morant admitted to making a lot of mistakes, some of which were not even public, but he doesn't exactly regret anything.

"It’s been tough. A lot of learning, a lot of teaching. It’s been a process, obviously, I wouldn’t say I regret it, but I’m not happy that it happened," he continued. "But I’m also grateful that I had this opportunity to reflect and do things that I felt like was not only needed for me but for my family as well for us to realize pretty much you know all that’s at stake, ways we can keep each other happy and how we just have each other’s back."