Apr 24, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) reacts after a basket during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game three for the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Scotty Pippen Jr. Reacts to Controversial Ja Morant Statement

Originally posted on Memphis Grizzlies on SI
By Liam Willerup | Last updated Apr 30, 2025 1:44 PM ET

The Memphis Grizzlies' 2024-25 season was definitely a disappointment. Looking at their record improvement from a season ago without context, you would disagree, but their second half of the season collapse, paired with an embarrassing showing in the playoffs, was surely disappointing. Now, they'll head into the offseason with a multitude of questions to answer about their roster.

Looking back on the playoffs, the Grizzlies were competitive with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the series' final two games. After the series, Grizzlies star Ja Morant said that he had OKC figured out, and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. responded to that comment on a recent appearance on Run It Back.

Like Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr. thinks the Grizzlies’ series vs. the Thunder could’ve gone way differently

Ja says he had OKC figured out by Game 2—but a collision with Lu Dort in Game 3 brought everything crashing down.

Once Ja went out, the series shifted for good pic.twitter.com/pJSVQRWAmU
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 29, 2025

"It could go either way, I feel like, if he doesn't go out," Pippen Jr. said in response to a question from former NBA star Lou Williams.

As detailed by Pippen Jr. in the answer, the Grizzlies were up 26 points at halftime of Game 3, but were set to head into the second half without Morant after he suffered an injury. The Grizzlies went on to blow the massive lead, but Morant's presence likely could've gotten them the win. In addition, the Grizzlies played OKC down to the wire in Game 4, losing by just two points.

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Whether or not Morant's presence could've extended the series much more, it's clear that the Thunder were the far superior team based upon their performances in games one and two when Morant was healthy.

This article first appeared on Memphis Grizzlies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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