For years, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been on a steady ascent to the top of the NBA, thanks to his highlight-reel athleticism and clutch play, which have made him a viral sensation. Unfortunately for him, injuries and questionable decisions have often overshadowed his talent.
On Halloween night, during the Grizzlies’ 2025-26 NBA Cup opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, another one of his missteps caused even his supporters to turn on him.
Why Is Ja Morant Facing Criticism After the Grizzlies’ Loss?
“I didn’t love what I saw from Ja Morant tonight,” former NBA star Blake Griffin told Amazon Prime Video studio host Taylor Rooks, sitting alongside fellow analysts Udonis Haslem and Dirk Nowitzki. Griffin singled out three specific plays, questioning Morant’s effort on both ends of the court.
Blake Griffin calls out Ja Morant’s not playing hard or being engaged 👀 pic.twitter.com/EMbIoiE8pA
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) November 1, 2025
“For a guy that’s making $40 million and needs to be the leader of this team, like, I just don’t love it. I don’t know if he was not feeling well or if he’s hurt. But, that to me is a very bad sign and it’s something that needs to, it has to change,” he suggested.
However, Morant was not the only Grizzlies player whose performance was under the microscope. Jaren Jackson Jr., a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, was also called out by fans. Much like his teammate, Jackson’s focus and effort were considered unacceptable, especially in the second half.
This visible lack of engagement became more apparent during a late timeout when Morant stood far away from his teammates as Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo directed the huddle, a moment captured by one fan on X.
Ja Morant during a Grizzlies timeout 😬
(Via @ohkmarr) pic.twitter.com/3S20yEe3F9
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 1, 2025
Following the game, the situation escalated when Morant appeared to point fingers at the coaching staff. When asked “what went wrong” on a night where he shot just 3-for-14 from the field and finished with eight points, his response was telling.
“Go ask the coaching staff,” he told reporters, per fan (@50Nuancesdenba) on X.
« Demandez au coaching staff (x4). […] D’après eux, il ne faut probably pas me faire jouer. […] C’est en gros le message qu’on m’a fait passer » 🥶
Quand ton FP envoie des grandes allusions comme celles-ci en interview d’après-match, ça pue…pic.twitter.com/DrBSyMwFwG
— 50 Nuances 🇺🇸🏀 (@50NuancesDeNBA) November 1, 2025
When pressed with a similar question, Morant replied, “Go ask him. They had a whole spiel in here.” The two-time All-Star then suggested that the Grizzlies’ coaches believe the team has a better chance of winning without him on the court.
For now, the situation in Memphis appears tense. It is worth noting that when the team dismissed former head coach Taylor Jenkins in late March, Morant’s dissatisfaction with his role was considered a primary factor in the decision to make the change. As a result, this new conflict with Iisalo could create a much larger ripple effect across the organization.
