Portland’s guard rotation raises an immediate question for Ja Morant: Does he need to start? His answer on Monday put winning ahead of his place in the lineup.
“I think winning is the most important thing for me,” Morant told reporters, per Bleacher Report. Asked whether starting mattered, he said he would accept whatever role helped Portland win. “As a starter, if I'm starting, if I'm not, it's the same thing,” he added, leaving the decision to the coaching staff.
The Trail Blazers must sort out minutes for Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scott Henderson. Lillard and Morant are expected to start together, although both typically play with the ball in their hands. Morant’s willingness to come off the bench gives Portland another option as it works through that fit.
Article Continues Below"[Ja Morant], do you see yourself as a starter on [the Blazers]?"
"I think winning is the most important thing for me." pic.twitter.com/toFcj4wlNy
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 28, 2026
Morant addresses sharing the ball in Portland
Morant also sounded comfortable playing alongside other guards who handle the offense. “Everybody on the team who has the ball [a lot] are all unselfish,” he said. He noted that he first played point guard as a high school junior and said sharing those duties would be no different.
His comments come after reports of friction with coaches and a disconnect with teammates during his time in Memphis. Morant did not address those reports on Monday. He spoke instead about his new teammates and his willingness to take either role.
Morant, 27, has averaged 22.4 points and 7.4 assists across his career. Injuries and off-court issues have held him to 79 games over the last three seasons. Portland’s starting lineup remains a coaching decision, and Morant says he can work with either answer.