The Spark in the Dark: Why Ja Morant Will Always Have My Support

By A Lifelong Grizzlies Fan

They say you shouldn’t pick your favorite team based on their colors, but as a kid, that’s exactly what I did. I fell in love with the Beale Street Blue before I ever understood a pick-and-roll. As I grew up, that superficial attraction turned into a deep, unwavering loyalty. If you weren’t wearing a Grizzlies jersey, you were the opposition—it was as simple as that.

I truly fell in love with the game in 2010. I had just graduated high school, and the "Grit and Grind" era was at its atmospheric peak. Every playoff game felt like a battle for the soul of Memphis. We fell short of a championship, but we had an identity. However, as the era faded, so did my own direction.

The Low Point

Adulthood wasn’t kind to me early on. I struggled with relationships, family dynamics, and a lack of goals. I was labeled "troubled," and I felt it. As the Grizzlies’ performance dipped on the court, I checked out mentally. I lost interest in the things that used to bring me joy, basketball included. I eventually hit my all-time low and made the decision to check into therapy to work on my mental health and rebuild myself.

The Turnaround: Enter Ja

A few years into my recovery, a coworker mentioned the upcoming NBA draft. I saw that Memphis held the second pick. That spark of curiosity led me back to the game just in time to see the franchise draft a young man named Ja Morant.

I was instantly hooked. Watching whatever highlights I could find online.

As I was working to better my own life, the Grizzlies became my escape and my reward. Ja Morant didn't just play basketball; he made it "must-watch TV." He brought an energy that felt like a mirror to my own journey of resurgence. Regardless of the off-court headlines, the injuries, or the "polarizing aura" the media loves to dissect, Ja is the reason I rediscovered my love for basketball.

More Than a Highlight Reel

Today, I’m what you’d call an NBA "super-fan." I dive into the analytics, I study the league, I mock up trades, and I write articles. My post-work ritual is checking X (formerly Twitter) for updates before I settle in for the night.

I firmly believe that if Memphis hadn't drafted Ja in 2019, I wouldn’t be half as invested in this sport as I am today. While the mainstream media focuses on the negatives, I choose to remember the energy and excitement he brought to the Memphis Grizzlies and myself.

To Ja: Thank You

I am a Grizzlies fan first and foremost, and I always will be. But I want it known that Ja Morant has my support forever. Whether he stays in Memphis or his journey takes him elsewhere, I will be the first to buy his next jersey to hang right next to his Memphis threads.

Thank you, Ja, for the work you put in, the excitement you brought to my favorite team, and for helping me find my way back to the game I love.