The High-Stakes Drama Surrounding Ja Morant and the Grizzlies

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Unrest in Memphis: The High-Stakes Drama Surrounding Ja Morant and the Grizzlies

The question “What is the deal with Ja Morant?” has become one of the most pressing and unsettling storylines early in the 2025-2026 NBA season. Just weeks into the new campaign, the Memphis Grizzlies franchise cornerstone is embroiled in a massive internal conflict, leading to a suspension, public criticism of the coaching staff, and growing speculation that his tenure in Memphis could be nearing its end.

Conduct Detrimental: The New Crisis

The latest issue exploded last week following the Grizzlies’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Locker Room Showdown: Star guard Ja Morant was reportedly called out by first-year Head Coach Tuomas Iisalo in the post-game locker room for his leadership and effort. Sources indicate Morant’s response to the coach was “inappropriate and dismissive.”
The Suspension: The Grizzlies responded swiftly, suspending Morant for one game due to “conduct detrimental to the team,” costing the star guard over $\$272,000$ in salary.
Public Dissension: When asked by reporters about his poor performance after the Lakers game (8 points on 3-of-14 shooting), Morant repeatedly instructed them to “Go ask the coaching staff… That’s basically what the message was after.”

This public clash with Iisalo—who replaced the fired Taylor Jenkins—suggests the cultural reset the Grizzlies sought has hit an immediate and serious roadblock.

“Lost Joy” and Trade Rumors

The situation escalated further after Morant returned from his suspension. Following a loss to the Detroit Pistons, Morant was candid with the media about his state of mind.

Lost Connection: Morant revealed that he no longer feels the same joy playing basketball that he once did and is unsure if he can regain that feeling in Memphis.
The Criticism: Pundits, including veteran reporter Tim MacMahon, are questioning Morant’s value, suggesting his “act is wearing thin” in Memphis, especially after the team traded his co-star Desmond Bane in the offseason and committed to Jaren Jackson Jr.

The turmoil has led to rampant speculation, with opposing front offices reportedly “monitoring” the situation closely, anticipating a potential trade. Analysts like Patrick Beverley have already named the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat as logical suitors should the Grizzlies decide to move on from their franchise player.

Timeline of Disciplinary Issues: Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant’s career has been punctuated by periods of brilliance and periods of controversy, primarily centered around conduct deemed detrimental to the team and the league.

Date	Incident/Action Taken	Penalty & Financial Impact	Context
March 4, 2023	First Firearm Incident (Instagram Live)	8-Game Suspension (NBA) for conduct detrimental to the league. The suspension included six games he had already missed after taking leave from the team.	Morant appeared intoxicated while displaying a firearm during a live stream from a Denver-area nightclub.
May 14, 2023	Second Firearm Incident (Instagram Live)	25-Game Suspension (NBA) to start the 2023-2024 season. Morant lost approximately $8.3 million in salary across the two major suspensions.	Morant was seen brandishing a firearm in a vehicle during a second live stream, despite prior public assurances to the league that he would not repeat such behavior.
2023-2024 Season	Inappropriate Hand Gesture	$75,000 Fine (NBA)	Morant was fined for making a “gun-like” hand gesture after hitting a three-pointer, which the league deemed inappropriate and in violation of a prior warning.

On-Court Struggles and Efficiency Dips

Beyond the off-court drama, Morant has struggled to find his efficiency this season:

2025-26 Season (7 Games)	Stat	Comment
Points Per Game	20.4	Below his All-NBA peak.
Field Goal %	40.6%	Down from career averages.
Three-Point %	15.6%	Significantly struggling from beyond the arc.
Minutes Per Game	29.4	A career low, signaling the new coach’s concerns over usage.

The Grizzlies currently sit at $3-5$ 5 on the season, underscoring the team’s need for Morant to be a consistent, All-NBA-caliber leader, a designation General Manager Zach Kleiman explicitly gave him ahead of the season.

The issue facing Memphis is delicate: how do you discipline a player without destroying a necessary relationship? For Ja Morant, the challenge is simple—prove he is ready to embrace the new culture and lead the Grizzlies toward contention before his time in Memphis runs out.