Morant missed 10 games after injuring himself while attempting a dunk during the Grizzlies' 131-114 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 6. The 25-year-old then said that he won't dunk for the rest of his career to avoid further risk.

Something has to give soon as the Grizzlies are shooting 33.9% over the past 15 games (23rd overall). Morant has been a steadying presence during this difficult stretch though. Jenkins emphasized Morant’s toughness and adaptability, particularly as the team has dealt with injuries and frequent changes to its rotation.

Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard dropped a game-high 30 points off the bench on 7-9 shooting from deep, while star point guard Ja Morant took over with 28 points and 7 assists. Morant had a great game, but no basket was as big as his last.

Relationships are built on the same cornerstones regardless of their nature. Talking things out and taking consideration of how the key stakeholders feel about a particular move are essential to strong bonds.