Ja Morant will start for the Portland Trail Blazers in their season opener against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, October 21. The confirmation from NBA insider Chris Haynes ends days of speculation about the two-time All-Star's role after a preseason where the Blazers finished with a 2-2 record, including a 128-118 loss to the Golden State Warriors on October 16.
Head coach Micah Nori has confirmed Morant will be in the starting lineup for the 10 p.m. ET tip-off at home. This decision comes after a complicated preseason evaluation of a crowded backcourt featuring Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson. Morant started the team's first preseason game, putting up eight points in 19 minutes. But he also showed flashes running the second unit, which fueled the reserve role rumors.
Nori now has his answer. Starting Morant alongside Lillard signals an aggressive offensive approach from the opening whistle. The Blazers' preseason results were mixed, with wins over the Sacramento Kings (110-98 on Oct. 13) and the Golden State Warriors (123-118 on Oct. 7) alongside the recent loss to Golden State and a blowout of the London Lions.
The logic for a sixth-man role was sound. Lillard is returning from a torn Achilles that cost him the entire 2025-26 season. Holiday offers elite perimeter defense and veteran stability. Henderson remains a core part of the franchise's long-term plan. Putting Morant in charge of the second unit would have given Portland a relentless, ball-dominant scorer to attack opposing benches.
He is most dangerous with the ball in his hands, creating chaos in the paint and for others. Letting him operate as the primary option with the reserves could have maximized his explosiveness. But Nori has opted for star power from the jump, a move that puts immediate pressure on the Suns' defense.
Lillard has been a vocal supporter of his new teammate since Morant's arrival in Portland. Speaking to Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Lillard pushed back strongly against the narrative surrounding Morant. "A lot of people have him wrong," Lillard said. He described Morant as a selfless teammate and praised his overall approach to the game.
This endorsement is significant for Morant, who is working to rebuild his standing after several turbulent seasons in Memphis. Injuries and off-court issues stalled a career that once had him among the NBA's most exciting young talents. In Portland, he gets a fresh start with a fellow superstar advocating for him.
The challenge is clear: making two ball-dominant stars effective together. Nori has already indicated that Lillard will play more off the ball this season. This should create additional opportunities for Morant to initiate the offense even when they share the floor. It’s a necessary adjustment to harness both players' talents.
Defensively, the pairing with Jrue Holiday will be key. Holiday can take the toughest perimeter assignment, allowing Morant and Lillard to conserve energy for offensive creation. The team's success hinges on this balance.
The immediate test is the Phoenix Suns tonight. After that, the Blazers will look to build momentum from their preseason performances, which showed both high-potential offense and clear defensive questions. How Nori manages rotations beyond the starting five, especially Henderson's minutes, will be a storyline to watch.
