Grizzlies' Ja Morant fires back at Stephen A. Smith's claim NBA players avoid Memphis due to safety issues

Memphis Grizzlies prima constituent defender Ja Morant fired backmost astatine Stephen A. Smith’s assertion that NBA players don't privation to articulation Morant's squad due to the fact that they don’t consciousness harmless successful the city. 

During Tuesday’s variation of "First Take," the panel, which included Smith and NBA brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris, discussed whether the Grizzlies should commercialized Morant and bash a afloat rebuild aft dealing Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. 

Marcus Morris was asked wherefore players don’t privation to beryllium successful Memphis, and Smith responded. 

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Memphis Grizzlies defender Ja Morant walks disconnected the tribunal during the 2nd fractional of a crippled against the Oklahoma City Thunder astatine Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)

"The radical successful Memphis, it’s a large sports municipality — large fans, large radical — but there’s an constituent determination wherever cats similar Jimmy Butler and others don’t consciousness similar it’s the safest environment," Smith explained, via Front Office Sports. 

"I’m talking to the section authorities successful Memphis. You’ve got to cleanable immoderate of that worldly up due to the fact that it’s dissuasive to NBA players. They person talked astir it. I know. They’ve told me. That’s each I’m saying." 

Morant didn’t respond straight to Smith, but helium gave his instrumentality connected the situation. 

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"talkin bout the grizz much than the finals [laughing emoji] wit these [cap emoji] ahh sources," Morant posted connected X. "instead of focusing connected the performances we seen from jdub/shai, tj/Siakam, however this bid is going. We accidental sumn antagonistic astir a city/team connected a nationalist level."

The "First Take" sheet besides discussed whether Morant wants to beryllium with the Grizzlies successful the aboriginal owed to however competitory the Western Conference is. 

"ima beryllium successful that 901…source: ME!!" helium besides wrote connected X, implying that helium volition beryllium staying enactment successful Memphis. 

Stephen A. Smith questioned whether NBA players consciousness harmless successful Memphis, and Grizzlies defender Ja Morant fired back.  (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

Smith besides spoke astir Morant straight connected the show, bringing up his weapon incidents that led to NBA suspensions. Without those, Smith said, Morant is simply a "good brother," though helium made a "foolish mistake."

Morant is 1 of the astir electrical guards successful the league erstwhile he’s connected the tribunal with the quality to people from anywhere, particularly astatine the rim. 

However, Smith questioned Morant’s availability aft this season’s injury-plagued results. 

"Did you cognize helium was connected the injured database 15 times this play with 8 antithetic ailments — hamstring, shoulder, knee, foot, hip, thigh, illness?" Smith told the Morris brothers. "Fifteen times. The champion quality is availability. If there’s a question astir his availability, present it’s a antithetic discussion. I request you connected that damn court."

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies during a crippled against the San Antonio Spurs astatine FedExForum Jan. 2, 2024, successful Memphis.  (Justin Ford/Getty Images)

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The Grizzlies finished eighth successful the Western Conference standings this play with a 48-34 record. They were swept by the eventual league champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who are 1 crippled distant from an NBA rubric aft Monday night’s Game 5 triumph implicit the Indiana Pacers.

Morant finished his sixth play successful Memphis averaging 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists implicit 50 games. 

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