Ja Morant Shuts Down Trade Rumors And Blasts National Media For Claiming Memphis Isn't Safe For NBA Players

Ja Morant has officially had enough. The Memphis Grizzlies star took to social media Tuesday morning to silence trade speculation and call out what he believes is unfair national media coverage painting Memphis as an undesirable or unsafe NBA destination.

In a defiant post on X (formerly Twitter), Morant wrote, “& ima be in dat 901 source: ME!!” making it crystal clear that he has no intention of leaving the only NBA home he’s ever known. 

The post served as a direct response to a growing wave of rumors that he could be the next Grizzlies star on the move following the blockbuster Desmond Bane trade to the Orlando Magic.

But Morant didn’t stop there.

In another post, he took aim at the media coverage surrounding Memphis, writing:

“talkin bout the grizz more than the finals wit these ahh sources,”

and followed it up with:

“instead of focusing on the performances we seen from jdub/shai, tj/siakam, how this series is going... we say sumn negative about a city/team on a national level.”

His comments came just hours after ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith claimed on First Take that NBA players such as Jimmy Butler had privately expressed concerns about the “safety” of playing in Memphis. Smith said he had spoken to local authorities and stated there’s “an element there” that deters players from wanting to play in the city.

Morant, fiercely loyal to Memphis and its culture, wasn’t having it. He didn’t just deny trade rumors, he drew a line in the sand for anyone trying to question his city.

The timing of the backlash is critical. The Grizzlies shocked the league by trading Bane, a 25-year-old two-way star who averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a pick swap. 

The move screamed rebuild, and naturally, attention shifted to the team’s other cornerstones: Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Multiple insiders have reported that the Grizzlies are now being closely watched across the league. There’s chatter that Morant had grown frustrated with his touches and late-game usage. 

His off-court issues and injuries over the past two seasons, playing just 59 games combined, fueled additional questions about his long-term fit.

But Morant’s posts put those rumors to rest, at least for now. He isn’t running from Memphis. He’s doubling down.

There’s also a deeper message to Morant’s frustration. At a time when the NBA Finals between the Thunder and Pacers are delivering thrilling performances from stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Tyrese Haliburton, and Pascal Siakam, the headlines have instead veered toward criticism of a franchise and city not even involved in the series.

For Morant, that’s not just disrespect, it’s deflection.

As the Grizzlies prepare for what could be a pivotal offseason, their franchise player has spoken. Loudly. Not only does Ja Morant intend to stay in Memphis, he’s daring the NBA world to doubt the 901.