The Memphis Grizzlies’ emphatic 131-114 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday may have been personal for star Ja Morant.
Morant, who finished with 20 points in the win, was jawing all night with Lakers’ Lebron James on the court at FedEx Forum. It started with James taunting Morant with the “too small” celebration after a big bucket in the second quarter and continued as the two players went at it for the entire game.
Morant spoke about his competitive moments with James after the Grizzlies’ victory, telling reporters he “expected” that from the Lakers star but that he “don’t back down from nobody.”
He then went on to explain why he was holding a slight grudge against the Lakers.
“I don't like them,” Morant said. “They knocked me out of the playoffs. And then last year, we had a game and they came here popping on our home floor when I was in street clothes… (James) was just next on our schedule. The Lakers, actually, and I won’t even say him… Beat us on our home floor. They was laughing, playing, looking at me, talking. My message was I was in street clothes.”
Ja Morant makes his feelings on the Lakers very clear:
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) November 7, 2024
"I don't like them."
The playoff loss two years ago is part of it, but also going back to the regular season last year.
"Beat us on our home floor. They was laughing, playing...My message was I was in street clothes." pic.twitter.com/ZZP5G8EUCu
The Lakers eliminated the Grizzlies in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs in a series that included a 40-point blowout in Game 6, the worst loss in Grizzlies playoff history.
Then, in a late regular season matchup last year, James and the Lakers appeared to have a little bit too much fun beating a banged-up Grizzlies side that was without Morant and Desmond Bane.
Morant and the Grizzlies have recently shared a chippy history with the Lakers, and that’s likely not going to change anytime soon. Up next for Memphis is a home matchup against the Washington Wizards on Friday.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Ja Morant Gave Two Very Personal Reasons Why He Doesn’t Like the Lakers.
