Report: Ja Morant felt alienated by Grizzlies teammates after suspension

What began as a disagreement with the coaching staff has now bled into something bigger, and potentially final.

Ja Morant has not moved past the one-game suspension handed down by the Grizzlies earlier this season, according to ESPN, and the fallout may ultimately end his tenure with the franchise.

ESPN reported that Memphis is entertaining trade offers for the seventh-year guard, a development that follows weeks of internal tension.

League sources told ESPN that Morant felt alienated by teammates after the suspension and later told players and former coaches around the league that he no longer wanted to play for the Grizzlies.

The suspension stemmed from comments Morant made following an Oct. 31 loss to the Lakers, when he publicly questioned decisions made by the team’s new coaching staff led by Tuomas Iisalo.

When asked what went wrong, Morant replied, “Go ask the coaching staff,” before adding, “According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly.”

Iisalo later challenged Morant’s leadership and effort, per ESPN, and the exchange escalated behind the scenes. Morant was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team, a decision that sources say he never fully accepted.

Compounding matters, Morant reportedly felt isolated in the aftermath, as teammates were encouraged to give him space while he worked through the situation. That distance, according to ESPN, only deepened the divide.

Now, the Grizzlies appear open to a reset.

Morant’s on-court production has dipped alongside the turbulence. He is averaging 19.0 points per game, his lowest mark since his rookie season, while shooting a career-worst 40.1 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from three-point range.

He is owed $42.2 million next season and $44.9 million in 2027-28, figures that will factor heavily into any talks.

Just days ago, the league saw a comparable situation play out when the Hawks moved Trae Young for player-based value rather than premium draft assets.

Whether Morant ultimately gets his wish remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the relationship in Memphis appears fractured, and the Grizzlies are at least listening.