Prior to the Memphis Grizzlies’ game against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, Ja Morant, a prominent player for the Grizzlies, shared a heartwarming moment with his beloved 4-year-old daughter, Kaari. They took to the court together during warm-ups.

Kaari could be seen jumping up and down, holding the ball for a few seconds, dribbling it a bit, and then passing it to her NBA father, who finished with an impressive slam dunk. It was a touching sight, especially in a season where the Grizzlies haven’t had much to celebrate, as they were once again defeated, this time by the Raptors with a score of 116-111.

However, witnessing Morant, the team’s star player, back on the court and in high spirits is a promising sign for the future of the franchise. Morant, who led the Grizzlies with 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, returned from a 25-game suspension on December 19 after violating league rules on Instagram for the second time.

Having Ja Morant’s daughter, Kaari, join him during warm-ups in Memphis showcases the bond between father and daughter. Morant’s return from his suspension last month adds optimism to the Grizzlies’ chances of making a push for a playoff spot. Heading into Wednesday night’s game, the Grizzlies were 5.5 games out of the 10th place, which would grant them a play-in game opportunity.

Morant’s presence and performance will undoubtedly bolster Memphis’ aspirations in the highly competitive Western Conference standings. It’s worth noting that Morant shares a relationship with his girlfriend, KK Dixon, who is also Kaari’s mother. The couple has been dating since 2018, and Kaari was born in 2019.