West Notes: Grizzlies, Ja Morant, Suns, Lakers, Anthony Davis

Grizzlies

• Shooting guard Desmond Bane indicated he believes there will be no issues once star point guard Ja Morant returns. “He’s a resilient guy, tough-minded guy,” Bane said, via Mark Medina of NBA.com. “Whenever he’s ready to come back, we’ll welcome him with open arms.”
• Power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. agreed. “He’s got it. I trust his judgment all the time. When he comes back, he’s going to be in the same groove,” Jackson said, via Medina. “It really doesn’t end up mattering.”
• Center Steven Adams (knee) seems likely to return to action soon, recently scrimmaging in 5-on-5 settings, coach Taylor Jenkins said. “It could be at the end of this road trip, but it has the potential to be a little bit longer than that,” Jenkins said, via Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian.
• Jenkins added that the Grizzlies are not taking Morant’s gun video lightly. “We take it very seriously,” Jenkins said, via Ben Golliver of The Washington Post. “Nationwide, league-wide, there’s a lot of attention on gun violence…It’s a growth opportunity, a learning opportunity.”

Suns

• Shooting guard Devin Booker and forward Kevin Durant have combined to score 188 points through their first three games together.
• As noted by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst: “That is the most points for the first three games between teammates since the 1961-62 season when Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50 a game and any new face who showed up made the list.”
• Booker indicated the Suns need contributions from everyone to become the team they think they can be. “We have ultimate confidence in everybody, telling (Chris Paul) to shoot it every time, telling (Ish Wainright) to shoot it, (Josh Okogie) to keep shooting,” Booker said, via Windhorst. “We’re gonna keep working on it.”

Lakers

Big man Anthony Davis offered high praise for guard Dennis Schroder following the Lakers’ win over the Warriors on Sunday.

“He wants to get to the playoffs. He wants to win,” Davis said, via Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation. “So by any means, he’s going to go out there and give it a go, and at this point in the season, I think everybody is playing with a little something. Hats off to him. He’s been a huge part for us this entire season.”

The Lakers improved to 2-2 since star forward LeBron James went down with a foot injury, as noted by Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

• Guard Austin Reaves said guard/forward Troy Brown Jr. doesn’t get the credit he deserves. “(He’s) usually chasing around the opposing team’s best player,” Reeves said, via Ward. “Rebounds the ball well, and then the confidence shooting the ball. He’s a very, very capable shooter and shoots it well.”
• Coach Darvin Ham said Davis “is in a very great place right now,” indicating the Lakers could still rise without James. “He has an unwillingness to settle and is staying in attack mode,” Ham told reporters of Davis. “He’s playing pain free and with great rhythm. We also have different pieces around him he can play off at a high level.”