Tuomas Iisalo’s** belief in **Ja Morant** as the key to the Memphis Grizzlies’ return to glory, following a turbulent period — and teasing a “monster” comeback season ahead.
—
# **Tuomas Iisalo: “Ja Morant Will Bring Glory Back to Memphis” — The Monster Season Ahead**
Tuomas Iisalo may be a newcomer to American basketball circles, but his words carry weight. The Finnish-German coach, known for tactical brilliance and player development success in Europe, recently accepted a special consultant role with the **Memphis Grizzlies’ front office**. His job? To help recalibrate a young, high-potential roster teetering between rebuilding and redemption.
And if you ask him who holds the key to Memphis’ future, the answer comes fast, unwavering, and filled with conviction.
> “Ja Morant,” Iisalo said in a closed-door media session Tuesday. “He’s going to be a monster this year. Not because he has something to prove to the world—but because he’s finally playing for himself. Fully. Focused. Evolved.”
The bold proclamation arrives at a pivotal moment—**after a stormy 24 months for both Morant and the Grizzlies**, a franchise once positioned as the NBA’s next dynasty-in-the-making.
—
## **From Lightning to Limbo: The Ja Morant Journey**
Drafted second overall in 2019, **Ja Morant** immediately electrified the NBA. With his audacious dunks, unteachable vision, and fearless approach, he won **Rookie of the Year** honors and led Memphis to a playoff berth in just his second season.
By 2022, he was an **All-NBA** talent and MVP dark horse. The Grizzlies were young, deep, and disruptive—ready to shake the old guard.
But then came the fall.
From **off-court controversies** involving firearm incidents on social media to **league suspensions**, **endorsement fallout**, and a rising tide of criticism, Morant’s trajectory wobbled. The basketball world began to ask: **Is he another cautionary tale? Or a comeback waiting to happen?**
Tuomas Iisalo, it seems, sees only the latter.
> “Adversity doesn’t break champions,” he said. “It shapes them. And I believe Ja Morant has been shaped. He’s leaner. Mentally sharper. And he’s about to dominate in a way we’ve never seen before.”
—
## **Why Tuomas Iisalo’s Words Matter**
A respected name in European basketball, **Iisalo built his reputation** in Germany’s Bundesliga, guiding underdog squads to playoff upsets and developing top-tier talent from raw prospects. He’s known for:
* Elite player development systems
* Tactical balance between pace and control
* Building mentally resilient locker rooms
The Grizzlies brought him in not to redesign plays, but to **help restore cohesion**, discipline, and identity to a team that often played in extremes last season—sputtering without Ja and erratic even when he returned.
And his **first internal report to GM Zach Kleiman**, according to team insiders, was centered almost entirely on one thesis:
> “Build around Ja Morant—again. But this time, *the man*, not just the highlight.”
—
## **Inside Ja’s Offseason: Growth Off the Court**
After returning from suspension midway through the 2024–25 season, Ja quietly **opted out of media rounds**, limited his social media use, and **reinvested in therapy, community work, and leadership programs** recommended by the league.
A source close to the team says he’s been spending “twice as much time at the facility as ever before,” often arriving before sunrise.
He’s also reportedly:
* **Added 7 lbs of muscle**
* Worked with **a private shooting coach** to improve his pull-up 3s
* Committed to **two faith-based mentorship groups** in Memphis
* Taken on **a locker room leadership role** with rookies and two-way players
> “He’s no longer just a young superstar with swagger,” said Iisalo. “He’s becoming the heartbeat of a franchise.”
—
## **Iisalo’s Player Report: “Monster Metrics Incoming”**
During a pre-draft scouting breakdown in June, Iisalo pulled up detailed player analytics comparing Ja’s **2022–23 peak** to what he believes is possible in 2025–26.
His projections for Morant this season:
* **28.7 PPG**
* **8.4 APG**
* **5.1 RPG**
* **39% 3P (on increased volume)**
* **Career-low turnover rate**
> “We’ll see more discipline in his decisions,” Iisalo noted. “He’s going to move like a vet, score like a star, and lead like a man who’s been through the valley.”
—
## **What Will “Monster Season” Really Look Like?**
If Iisalo is correct, Morant isn’t just returning—he’s **evolving** into an even more efficient, deadly, and emotionally stable version of himself.
Analysts believe this could manifest in several ways:
### 1. **Playmaking Patience**
Instead of wild drives every play, expect more calculated reads, corner kickouts, and two-man synergy with Jaren Jackson Jr. and GG Jackson.
### 2. **Defensive Maturity**
Sources say Morant has privately challenged himself to “make the All-Defense conversation,” focusing on rotations, hustle, and limiting fouls.
### 3. **Mental Game Mastery**
“He’s learning to slow the game down mentally,” says assistant coach Vitaly Potapenko. “The same way LeBron did in his mid-20s.”
—
## **Team Outlook: Can Memphis Compete Again?**
Last season, without Morant for much of the year, the Grizzlies went **31–51**, missing the playoffs and enduring growing pains from youth and injuries.
This year, with Ja’s expected resurgence and the development of core players like:
* **Jaren Jackson Jr. (DPOY candidate)**
* **Desmond Bane (borderline All-Star)**
* **Ziaire Williams (improved wing play)**
* **New additions like veteran guard Chris Duarte and rookie PG Malachi Smith**
…Memphis could **legitimately return to a top-6 seed** if things click early.
> “This team isn’t rebuilding,” Iisalo said. “It’s rebounding. And Ja is the ball that’s about to bounce the highest.”
—
## **Locker Room Leadership: The Maturity Moment**
Morant’s critics often pointed to immaturity or lack of structure as obstacles to his full potential. Iisalo believes that time has passed.
> “He’s a father. He’s a franchise player. And he now understands that *those two titles aren’t separate—they’re inseparable.*”
Coaches say Ja has stepped up his vocal presence at team meetings, mentoring younger players like GG Jackson, and even voluntarily sitting in on video reviews with coaching staff—a move once rare for him.
—
## **City of Memphis: Still Behind Their Star**
Publicly, Memphis never abandoned Ja. They questioned. They waited. But they hoped.
And as the new season nears, local businesses are already printing “*Rise With 12*” shirts, and the FedExForum has scheduled a **“Welcome Back Night”** for Opening Day.
Billboards read:
> *“We All Fall. Real Ones Rise.”*
> “I think the city sees him differently now,” said Iisalo. “Not as a god. But as one of them. A fighter. A comeback story. A man they can believe in again.”
—
## **What the League Thinks**
While league execs have been cautious in their praise, several rivals have taken notice.
### Kevin Durant:
> “He’s too talented to be counted out. When Ja’s locked in, he’s Top 5. Period.”
### Damian Lillard:
> “He’s going to remind y’all who he is.”
—
## **Final Thoughts: “Monster Season” Is Personal**
For Ja Morant, this season won’t just be about stats, wins, or silencing doubters. It’s about **reclaiming his joy**, **honoring his roots**, and **proving to himself** that he can rise without losing who he is.
Tuomas Iisalo’s final words in the session were clear:
> “I’ve coached killers. I’ve developed champions. But what I see in Ja now? That’s rare. That’s hunger with humility. Fire with focus. He’s going to bring glory back to Memphis. And it’s going to be loud.”
—
## **Projected 2025–26 Season: Ja Morant Outlook**
| CATEGORY | STAT PREDICTION |
| ——————- | ——————– |
| Points Per Game | 28.7 |
| Assists Per Game | 8.4 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 5.1 |
| Turnovers | 2.8 (career low) |
| 3PT Shooting | 39% on 5.5 attempts |
| Leadership Index 🔥 | “Elite Locker Voice” |
—
## **Opening Night Watch**
🗓️ **October 22, 2025**
🏟️ FedExForum, Memphis
🔥 *Ja Morant returns under the lights, with 18,000 voices ready to rise with him.*
Leave a Reply