News Article
Published
Oct 21, 2026 at 07:14 PM EDT
The Portland Trail Blazers will begin their 2026-27 NBA regular season on Wednesday night at home versus the Phoenix Suns.
It was reported Wednesday morning that offseason trade acquisition and two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant would be coming off the Trail Blazers' bench to start his career in Portland.
Senior NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Wednesday afternoon, however, that the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year will be in the team's starting lineup.
The Trail Blazers had a massive summer, hiring Micah Nori as their next head coach on June 23 and trading for Morant on June 29.
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These moves came after Portland brought back legendary point guard Damian Lillard in free agency last July, though the nine-time All-Star missed the entire 2025-26 campaign while recovering from a torn Achilles.
Nori's roster also includes fellow notable guards in two-time All-Star Jrue Holiday, former No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson and former seventh overall pick Shaedon Sharpe. The 23-year-old Sharpe, however, is currently sidelined due to a torn meniscus.
ESPN's Marc J. Spears had initially reported that Morant would be in the Blazers' second unit due to the team's crowded backcourt.
The 27-year-old former No. 2 draft pick averaged 19.5 points, 8.1 assists and 28.5 minutes per game during his final season with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2025-26 but was limited to 20 contests due to calf and elbow injuries.