The Hornets’ LaMelo Ball (right) and the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant want to stay healthy to help their teams improve their respective standings in the 2024-25 season.

Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball, two of the league’s most promising young stars, are expected to return to the field for the 2024-25 season after both players suffered injury setbacks last season: Morant was sidelined with a shoulder injury and Ball was sidelined persistent ankle problems.

Morant will resume his starting point guard position for Memphis on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz. The Grizzlies’ centerpiece has looked good in the limited preseason with 15 points per game and 52% shooting in two appearances.

Morant’s return is crucial for Memphis to re-establish itself among the top teams in the West. Prior to last season, the Grizzlies secured the No. 2 seed in the West for two consecutive years (2021-22, 2022-23). Morant was the driving force behind these campaigns and although it didn’t advance far into the playoffs, the young squad gained valuable playoff experience.

With Morant expected to return to form, the Grizzlies are poised to reclaim their spot as a top contender in the Western Conference.

As for Ball, the 23-year-old guard hopes to revitalize the Charlotte Hornets and re-establish them as a competitive force in the East. Although Ball showed the promise of a future star in his first four seasons, his ankle problems limited him to just 58 total games over the last two years. The Hornets are looking to make the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade (2015-16).

Ball could be the missing piece to a promising young core that includes 2023 No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller. The combination of Ball and Miller could form one of the most exciting young teams in the Eastern Conference Miller had a strong rookie season and looked good in the preseason.

Currently, it is not expected that both the Grizzlies and Hornets will compete for a title this season, but there is a possibility that both Morant and Ball could dramatically improve their standings in their respective conferences in full seasons.

For the Grizzlies, a rise in the Western Conference standings is within reach considering their rise in Morant’s last two full seasons. It’s possible that Memphis not only returns to the postseason but also secures a top seed.

A playoff berth is within reach for the Hornets, assuming Ball stays healthy. His electrifying playmaking abilities will give this team a significant boost as the season progresses.

Both players will be must-see features on NBA League Pass this season, starting tonight when Ball and the Hornets take on the Rockets (8 et) and later, when Morant and the Grizzlies take on the Jazz (9 et).