Ja Morant could not help himself and taunted D’Angelo Russell, generating a lot of attention from the basketball community in the process. Fans will know that Morant is the franchise cornerstone and star point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies. The past few seasons of his young career have been filled with suspensions and controversy due to Morant’s off-court antics.
After being eliminated from the first round of the 2024 Western Conference playoffs, Morant and the Grizzlies have entered this season looking to turn things around. His celebration or taunt after scoring a bucket over Russell has us seeing things from a different perspective.
Has Ja Morant Regained His ‘Joy’ With the Memphis Grizzlies?
Morant had already found himself suspended for a game due to his comments criticizing the Grizzlies’ coaching in a postgame interview. Reports also emerged implying that he was frustrated with the Grizzlies’ new coach, Tuomas Iisalo, and preferred the team’s previous coach, Taylor Jenkins.
All of this led to Morant expressing his frustration over his situation. He even indirectly claimed, as Jimmy Butler did before leaving the Miami Heat, that he no longer feels “joy” when on the court for the Grizzlies. This was viewed as a sign that Morant was on the verge of demanding a trade.
Thankfully, that drama seems to have temporarily subsided. The Grizzlies currently hold a record of four wins and six losses. They defeated Russell and the Dallas Mavericks in a recent NBA Cup group stage game, giving Morant the perfect opportunity to taunt his rival point guard.
After getting Russell to guard him in the post, Morant effortlessly spun around and elevated to make a shot over Russell. He then flashed the “too small” hand gesture at Russell as the Grizzlies star began to run back on defense.
Ja Morant called D’Angelo Russell tiny đŸ˜
(Via @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/qBKEEwpx5m
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 8, 2025
The celebration in itself is not controversial and is unlikely to get Morant in any kind of trouble. Since the Grizzlies ultimately won against the Mavericks with a final score of 118-104, Morant’s taunt did not jeopardize his team’s victory.
It has also led Grizzlies fans to hope that Morant’s issues with the team have been addressed. He expressed an initial frustration with the frequent substitutions that Iisalo has been utilizing. However, Morant managed to score 21 points, 13 assists, and five rebounds in just 32 minutes of action against the Mavericks, a sign that he is adapting to their new playstyle.
With this win against the Mavericks, the Grizzlies have gained some momentum. The team will now be truly tested in their upcoming “revenge game” against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Fans are left wondering if Morant and his squad will be able to make up for their early exit from the playoffs last season with a win against the defending champions.
