Ja Morant has strong message for LeBron James after spirited exchange
Feb 12, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Ja Morant led the Memphis Grizzlies to a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, and he had a strong message for LeBron James after the game.
Morant scored 20 points in 24 minutes as the Grizzlies beat the Lakers 131-114 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. Things got chippy between the two teams late in the first half after Morant scored over Gabe Vincent while getting fouled and taunted Vincent with the “too small” gesture. On the next possession, LeBron scored on Morant and returned fire with the same hand gesture.
You can see the sequence:
Ja Morant gave a "too small" to Gabe Vincent, and then LeBron gave it right back to Ja pic.twitter.com/0N3OnwlMu1
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) November 7, 2024
After his team secured the win, Morant was asked about the trash talk. The star point guard said he thought LeBron’s basket over him should have been a charge and noted how James has a huge height advantage. Morant also said he does not fear LeBron and that he has no love for the Lakers.
“Top dog in our league. You take out the top dog, who else you fear? I don’t fear nobody, anyway,” Morant said. “I ain’t have to get up. I ain’t been down.
“They beat us last time. I didn’t get to play, like I said, last year. They came on our home floor, beat us on our home floor, was laughing, playing, looking at me talking. My message was I was in street clothes. This is my first opportunity to get back on the floor playing against them.”
Morant added that he doesn’t like the Lakers. You can hear his full comments:
Ja Morant makes his feelings on the Lakers very clear:
"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
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) November 7, 2024
James was also asked about the tense few minutes of play. He took the high road and praised Morant for “the inspiration that he gives the younger generation alone.”
"The energy alone, the inspiration that he gives to the younger generation alone was huge for our league and it's great to have him back out there for sure"
– LeBron James on Ja Morant pic.twitter.com/47ce4PLujB
— Digits Sports App (@Digits3App) November 7, 2024
As Morant mentioned, the Lakers knocked the Grizzlies out of the playoffs two years ago. Morant seems to be trying to create his own David vs. Goliath-type rivalry between Memphis and L.A. The Grizzlies got the best of LeBron and company this time.
