Grizzlies star Ja Morant was suspended one game for “conduct detrimental to the team,” the team announced.
Morant criticized the Memphis coaching staff following their loss to the Lakers on Friday — when he collected just eight points and made just three shots — when fielding a question about what went wrong and saying, “Go ask the coaching staff.”
Then, when asked for his other thoughts about the Grizzlies’ third loss of the young season, Morant said, “According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly. That’s basically what the message was after.”
Head coach Tuomas Iisalo reportedly challenged “Morant’s leadership and effort” after Friday’s game in a confrontation that happened in front of the team, according to ESPN, and the outlet added that Morant replied with a “tone deemed inappropriate and dismissive.”
Morant and the Grizzlies have needed to adjust to a new coaching staff under Iisalo after Taylor Jenkins’ firing near the end of last season, but Morant — averaging 20.8 points through six games — was supposed to factor in as a key piece.
He’s their $197 million superstar, signed for at least two more seasons after this one, and during the 2021-22 season, he helped the Grizzlies reach the Western Conference semifinals by averaging 27.4 points per game and winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
But Memphis hasn’t advanced past the first round since, and at the end of March last season, the Grizzlies shockingly fired Jenkins and named Iisalo their interim coach.
After Memphis won three of its first five games to open the season, they led the Lakers by 14 points at halftime, but behind Luka Dončić — back after missing three games — and his 44 points, they managed to erase that deficit and escape with a five-point win.
Morant was also criticized by former NBA star Blake Griffin during the Amazon Prime postgame show, saying “I just don’t love it” given that Morant is making nearly $40 million this year and is supposed to be the Grizzlies’ leader.
“I don’t know if he was not feeling well, if he’s hurt,” Griffin continued. “But that, to me, is a very bad sign and is something that … has to change.”
Morant will miss the Grizzlies’ road game Sunday against the Raptors, and he’ll be eligible to return Monday when Memphis hosts Detroit.
