The NBA released its All-NBA teams on Wednesday, an annual tradition of honoring the top players from the season. But as much as the day is about applauding great performances, it’s also about tracking the reactions from players who felt snubbed by being left off the illustrious lists.
Grizzlies star Ja Morant could likely be considered among the aggrieved.
Morant did not end up making any of the three All-NBA teams after earning a second-team selection last year. He was the top vote-getter among guards who missed the cut, with 10 second-team votes and 14 third-team votes. Morant’s 44 points fell well short of Damian Lillard’s 137, which represented the fewest among the third-team guards.
After the teams were revealed, Morant posted a vague tweet that appeared to address the snub.
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 10, 2023
Morant made his second All-Star team this season, averaging 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game across 61 contests. He faced off-the-court issues that included Morant sharing an Instagram live video of himself in a club holding a gun, which led to him being away from the team for most of March. Morant also dealt with a hand injury that hampered him during the playoffs. The No. 2-seed Grizzlies lost in the first round to the Lakers in six games.
The 23-year-old is certainly not alone in feeling snubbed at missing out on an All-NBA selection, so perhaps we can expect an extra-motivated Morant as he prepares for his fifth NBA season.
