Things aren’t looking great for the Memphis Grizzlies right now. They are currently sitting with a 16-21 record. But what’s making headlines isn’t just their record. But it is the growing tension between the team and their star player, Ja Morant.
According to a recent ESPN report, Morant had already made up his mind about leaving the organization a few months back. Now, with trade rumors swirling around him, NBA legend Kevin Garnett has weighed in on where he thinks Morant should land next.
Kevin Garnett Thinks Ja Morant Would Fit in This Team
The turbulence surrounding Morant began to surface this season as a few weeks earlier, on November 1, Morant drew a one-game suspension after a heated exchange with Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo. The friction continued after a disappointing performance against the Los Angeles Lakers, where Morant finished with eight points on an inefficient night.
Reports suggested Iisalo challenged Morant’s energy and leadership in the locker room, and Morant’s responses appeared defensive, with him telling reporters to “ask the coaching staff” about his minutes rather than engaging with the questions.
Memphis then opted to sit him for the following game against the Toronto Raptors, which was a move that signaled one thing. It was that the patience in the organization might be wearing thin. But it’s not just about attitude. Morant’s numbers this season tell another troubling story.
He has averaged 19 points, 7.6 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. It is decent enough on paper. But his shooting has been concerning. He’s hitting just 40.1% of his field goals and an awful 20.8% from beyond the arc. Additionally, he has already missed 19 games this season due to various reasons. This also included the last four due to a right calf injury.
“‘The combination of pain in the a**, injury prone, not that good anymore, and big contract is a bad one,’ said an East executive, who added that he wouldn’t want Morant on his roster regardless of salary,” wrote Bobby Marks and Tim MacMahon in one of their ESPN report regarding Morant.
As mentioned earlier, Garnett’s remarks have stirred conversation about Morant’s next destination. A portion of an old “KG Certified” podcast clip resurfaced on social media in which Garnett appeared to suggest the Miami Heat could be a better environment for Morant.
“I actually thought, Ja to Miami, you know why? Miami got some structure. You ain’t just down there doing the f**k you want. You down there in some real structure to make you a professional. They might be the last to have a real culture, where when you come in, you’re actually better.”
“If Miami gets a summer with you, you come into the year looking better. Your body is going to be better. Your mentality is going to be better. Whatever the s**t they pumping down there in the 205, bro, that’s s**t’s working,” Garnett said during that podcast.
Garnett’s got a point worth considering here. The Heat’s famous “Heat Culture” isn’t just a catchy phrase; it’s a genuine cultural phenomenon. But it’s actually real. Remember when Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh teamed up?
That “Big Three” made four straight NBA Finals runs from 2011 to 2014, won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, and even had a 27-game winning streak. The system that Pat Riley built demands discipline and a team-first mentality.
If Morant joined Miami, perhaps that environment could help him mature as a player and build better chemistry with teammates who share that philosophy. Of course, we’ll have to wait and see what actually happens.