Ja Morant’s Message After NBA Makes Decision on His Dad

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Feb 9, 2025 12:41 PM ET

The Memphis Grizzlies' game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night was halted late in the fourth quarter following an incident involving a fan and the officiating crew. That fan was Tee Morant, the father of Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant.

Speaking with Drew Hill of the Daily Memphian after the game in a Pool Report, Crew Chief John Tiven explained what happened.

"The fan continued to repeat overtly disrespectful statements about the integrity of the officiating crew, so as the crew chief, I approached security and asked that he be removed," Tiven said, also admitting he knew the fan was Morant's father.

Grizzlies star Ja Morant's father, Tee Morant, was ejected in Saturday's home loss to the Thunder for being "overtly disrespectful" to the officiating crew. https://t.co/djHs8ToALG
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 9, 2025

Tee Morant appeared to be sitting courtside before security approached him and escorted him out of the building with 2:10 left on the game clock and the Thunder up 122-107.

Ja Morant finished the night with 16 points and seven assists on 6/19 FG, as the No. 1 seed Thunder snapped the Grizzlies' winning streak.

Speaking with reporters after the game (via Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal), Ja Morant shared a message on the situation.

“He probably got kicked out, so I didn't,” Morant told reporters. “Probably complaining about something to the ref.”

Ja Morant on his father’s ejection: "He probably got kicked out so I didn't.”

More here on why Tee Morant was ejected: https://t.co/VKbzt3Dph3
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) February 9, 2025

Desmond Bane led the team with 20 points and nine rebounds on 7/15 FG in the loss, while Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had another stellar scoring performance, leading all scorers with 32 points and also adding eight assists.

Following the loss, the Grizzlies fall to 35-17 on the season, while OKC improved to an NBA-best 42-9. The Grizzlies will hope to get back to winning ways when they face the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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