Morant unsure if he can recapture joy for basketball: 'We'll see'

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant returned to the lineup Monday evening against the Detroit Pistons following a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

But Morant admitted postgame that he isn't playing basketball with the same joy, according to Matt Infield of Action News 5.

When asked how he could regain his passion for the game, Morant simply responded, "We'll see."

First-year Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo challenged Morant's leadership and effort during a postgame exchange after Friday night's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Iisalo's comments apparently drew an inappropriate and dismissive response from Morant, adds Charania.

Still, the All-Star guard maintains that he's on good terms with the franchise.

"If I didn't have a good relationship, I wouldn't talk to them at all," Morant said.

Morant tallied 18 points and 10 assists in his first game since the reported incident, but he shot 5-of-16 from the field and committed five turnovers.

The Grizzlies wound up losing 114-106 to drop to 3-5 on the season.