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Morant's Shocking Blazers Debut: Bench or Starter?
22 Oct
Summary
- Ja Morant will start for the Trail Blazers despite initial reports of him coming off the bench.
- Portland begins their 2026-27 season at home against the Phoenix Suns.
- The Trail Blazers made significant offseason moves, including hiring a new head coach.
The Portland Trail Blazers are gearing up for their 2026-27 NBA regular season, with their opener scheduled for Wednesday night at home against the Phoenix Suns. In a notable development, two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant, a significant offseason acquisition, will be in the team's starting lineup.
This decision comes after initial reports indicated Morant might come off the bench due to the team's deep backcourt. Morant, the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists in 20 games last season.
Portland's offseason has been busy, marked by the hiring of Micah Nori as head coach on June 23 and the trade for Morant on June 29. These moves followed the return of Damian Lillard, who missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a torn Achilles.
The Trail Blazers' roster also features guards Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson. However, Shaedon Sharpe is currently sidelined with a torn meniscus.
