“I have been monitoring the situation closely, and him,” Silver told reporters last week. “In fact, we intend to have a check-in this week directly, Ja and I.”

Based on Silver’s comments, the chat between the commissioner and Morant sounds like less like a requirement and more like a routine check-in. Silver said Morant has “complied with everything he’s been asked to do.”

“But folks in the league office, together with Ja and his team and the players association, have been in regular contact essentially weekly,” Silver told reporters. “They’re having those checkpoints. We, together, laid out a program for him over the last several weeks, and to the best of my knowledge, he’s complied with everything he’s been asked to do.”

Morant was suspended 25 games in June following a second incident in which he appeared to be brandishing a gun on social media.

Morant can’t come back soon enough for the Grizzlies, who are struggling this year. The Grizzlies (6-16) have been hit hard by injuries. Center Steven Adams, who’s out for the season following knee surgery, backup forward Brandon Clarke is still rehabilitating from the torn Achilles he sustained last season and guard Marcus Smart is out with a sprained left foot.

Morant has been practicing with the team throughout his suspension, and head coach Taylor Jenkins has said Morant is ready to go.