In the second-to-last Lakers game of the season, the Purple and Gold took a win in Memphis over the Grizzlies. But for young star Ja Morant, it wasn’t the loss that hurt the most — it was the Grizzlies getting overshadowed and running off the floor like they were the ones who didn't belong.
Hours after the game, Morant was caught liking two separate posts on X calling out the Grizzlies fans for being outnumbered by Lakers Nation, and it recently caught the attention of people online. “Pisses me off every time," wrote one fan. “So embarrassing sounding like a home crowd cheering for them folks…”
To be blunt, the Grizzlies haven’t given their fans much to cheer for this season. A loss against the Nuggets on Sunday will put them at 27-55 on the season, good enough for 13th in the West. Without Ja Morant’s electric presence on the court, the Grizzlies just don’t have enough juice to be competitive, and it’s often hard to watch.
Coming into Sunday’s game, the Grizzlies were practically unrecognizable from last year’s squad that once held the top seed in the West. Battling through injuries (including Morant’s) and rotation changes at every turn, it’s been impossible to gain any traction.
Meanwhile, the Lakers still have a lot to play for, and their fans have never been more invested in the season. No matter how much it may displease Ja, the Lakers are strongest at this time of year, and the fans will make themselves known. With the West standings so tight, every game matters, and any win or loss can make the difference between a long playoff run and a short-lived post-season stint.
Ja Morant’s Revenge In 2025?
From a talent perspective, Ja Morant is one of the best there is. Last season, in 61 games, Morant averaged 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game on 46% shooting. At just 24 years old, he's already a 2x All-Star and is making a case as one of the best point guards in the league.
But when it came time to rise to the occasion in the playoffs, Ja was unable to follow through, and he had yet to defeat the Lakers team, which he seemed to despise so much. Worse still, after a series of controversies destroyed his reputation and put him face-to-face with public scrutiny, the NBA had no choice but to step in and hand a 25-game suspension.
It was only a brief stint that Morant was allowed to play before injuries took hold again and now the stars are aligning for him to return with a greater vengeance next season. With the whole team intact, the odds are good that the Grizzlies will be better than they’ve been this season.
As teams like the Lakers and Warriors get another year older, Morant will be fresh and more explosive than ever with a full season off and a fully healthy roster for the first time since 2022. No doubt, the Grizzlies will be a team to fear next year, and the Lakers may not find it so easy to overwhelm FedEx Forum when the Grizzlies are going at full strength.
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