Grizzlies Coach Gets Honest About Marcus Smart Once Ja Morant Returns

The Memphis Grizzlies believe Smart will have a big impact once the team is fully healthy

Marcus Smart has already made a strong impact on the Memphis Grizzlies in a short amount of time. While the team has struggled mightily in the absence of Ja Morant, Smart has been a leader on and off the court, keeping the team together during this tough stretch.

Speaking with reporters after Sunday's win over the LA Clippers, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins was asked about Smart's role once the team gets fully healthy with Morant and others back in the mix.

"He's going to have a substantial impact," Jenkins said of Smart. "Obviously, we made a big commitment this summer to bring him here, from the basketball qualities to the inner personal qualities. We always talk about having competitors on the team, and he's done that at the highest level with the sacrifice, the trust that it takes, being able to push each other in both directions. To push others and take push back yourself, to continue to get the best out of yourself. When we obviously get fully whole, whatever that's gonna look like, and the course of the season rolls on, I'm gonna have a lot of faith that he's going to bring a lot of positives to our group, not just on the court but off the court, and I will keep challenging him to do that and find his way of doing it, because he has to do it organically. Hopefully he continues to push us to find that next level that the Grizzlies are capable of."

These were strong words form Jenkins, who knows Smart will have a big role even once Morant and others return.

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