Stephen A. Smith made a puzzling statement on Tuesday regarding why some NBA stars are reluctant to join the Memphis Grizzlies, and Ja Morant didn’t waste any time clapping back.
Following the Grizzlies’ recent trade of Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in a major deal, Smith addressed the topic during ESPN’s “First Take.” He claimed that some players around the league have shared concerns about the safety of playing in Memphis.
“There’s an element there where cats like Jimmy Butler don’t feel it’s the safest environment,” Smith said. “I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis: You gotta clean some of that stuff up, because it’s dissuasive to NBA players. They have talked about it. I know. They told me.”
Morant, clearly displeased with the timing of Smith’s remarks, responded on social media, suggesting the focus should be on the NBA Finals instead.
He criticized the media—presumably Smith—for discussing the Grizzlies more than the ongoing Finals matchup between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. In a post on X, Morant said people were using “cap” sources, slang for unreliable or false information. He added that attention should be on players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and other Finals stars.
In another post, Morant seemed to dismiss any trade rumors about himself, writing “ima be in dat 901,” referencing Memphis’ area code.
Smith’s comments about Memphis being an unsafe destination for NBA players have drawn skepticism, and based on Morant’s reaction, the Grizzlies star strongly disagrees.
