ja morant travel vs warriors

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Ja Morant got away with egregious travel against Warriors

NBA referees rarely call players for traveling or carrying these days, which in turn allows the players to routinely commit infractions. That said, what Ja Morant got away with on Tuesday was extremely egregious.

A video clip of a play that occured during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals series between the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies went viral. The video shows Morant blatantly carrying the ball and then traveling two steps before dribbling again.

Ja Morant carries the ball on pretty much every possession…and it never gets called. This is pretty excessive too. pic.twitter.com/ho5JBPsh2l — Guru (@DrGuru_) May 4, 2022

Morant was running with the ball like he was playing lacrosse rather than basketball.

Some people pointed out other plays where players committed similar violations, such as when Steph Curry split some Grizzlies defenders in the first quarter.

Hey bruh, what's this? https://t.co/52nvHivbyx pic.twitter.com/Y4QhwlvuJc — Justin Lewis (@J_Timberfake_) May 4, 2022

Sure, Curry should have been called for a violation too. But that was nothing compared to how much of a travel Morant got away with.

It’s obvious the NBA has no problem with players skirting the rules to enhance the entertainment value of the product. But they still need to enforce the rules often enough to protect the integrity of the game. Allowing plays like that to happen reflects poorly on the sport.

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Ja Morant's Game 2 performance challenges the Golden State Warriors' championship pedigree

• NBA writer for ESPN.com since 2008
• Former contributor and editor at NPR

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- On Monday, coming off the Golden State Warriors ' 117-116 victory in Game 1, Stephen Curry reminisced about his absentminded youth.

Like every student on Davidson's campus, Curry was issued a CatCard that admitted him to every facility, from the gym to the cafeteria. While his counterpart in the Western Conference semifinals, Ja Morant , has spent his early 20s with the Memphis Grizzlies leading one of the quickest NBA rebuilds in recent years, Curry said he was still losing his CatCard -- and trying to remember the location of his dorm. And while Curry was figuring out how to play the pro game, behind Acie Law IV, Morant is playing at the league's high-stakes table, controlling games with his tenacity.

If Curry was replacing ID cards, Morant has been creating art. And Memphis' 106-101 Game 2 win is Morant's showpiece. He ran up 47 points on a true shooting percentage of 64.0. He dragged a Grizzlies team with little offensive rhythm and execution by the scruff of the necks, scoring Memphis' final 15 points.

"Definitely up there," Morant said when asked where Tuesday night's performance ranks in his body of work. "I feel like this was kind of a must-win game for us; and for me, I was frustrated with myself for missing that layup in Game 1."

For the second time in the past two weeks when asked about his mindset and strategy during his fourth-quarter takeovers, Morant was brief in response. He offered no breakdown of how the defense was scheming and no description of his emotional state. It's a simple mantra: "Go get a bucket."

Morant said these buckets in Game 2 were made with limited sight after taking a shot to his left eye in the third quarter. Vision might be a compass, but Morant can find his way to the basket wearing a blindfold.

Through two games, Morant has loudly declared himself the best player in the series. Curry and fellow Warriors guard Klay Thompson have struggled from distance. Draymond Green missed most of Game 1, and of his 13 potential assists in Game 2, his Golden State teammates made good on only three, according to Second Spectrum. The two teams might be evenly matched -- Las Vegas be damned -- but if superstar performances determine outcomes, the Grizzlies appear well-positioned.

The series presents an interesting -- and somewhat layered -- contrast.

The Warriors' pedigree lends them a strong identity, one cultivated over seven years: The pass-happy style, the exuberant joy coupled with hyperintelligence, the defense that goes full halves without making mistakes. Game 2, the Warriors' worst 3-point shooting game by percentage (18.4) during their current dynastic era, was the exception, not the rule.

Those characteristics remain, but this Warriors squad also came into the postseason with some unknowables. The quartet of Curry, Green, Thompson and Andrew Wiggins spent a grand total of nine seconds together on the floor during the regular season. The Warriors certainly know what they are; but specifically who they are this season is still a mystery, even to them. Strange as it is to say, the 2022 Warriors are a work in progress.

The Grizzlies offer the opposing dynamic. Their young core has grown up together this season, even with Dillon Brooks missing 50 games. They've established a recognizable two-way style. Morant's penetration propels their drive-and-kick game. And after getting swamped the first month of the season, Memphis adjusted its defensive shifts to the interior, minded the gaps and evolved into one of the best paint-protection teams in the league at defending shots 14 feet in. It's a formula that won 56 regular-season games, which is a validation, because that kind of success doesn't happen by accident.

Yet, the Grizzlies are at the very outset of a long life cycle, and no squad can sufficiently know at such a young age what its DNA will reveal about it in adulthood. The matchup with the Warriors, while a beast in the short term, is a blessing during their first substantial postseason foray. It's a chance to learn championship basketball while countering it. Judging by Game 2, Morant and the Grizzlies are a quick study.

Following the buzzer of Golden State's razor-thin win in Sunday's Game 1 -- the margin being the missed layup that would be stuck in Morant's craw for the next 48 hours -- Curry found Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. before they returned to their respective locker rooms. The two-time MVP told the 22-year-old phenom and his big man that the conference semifinal series was going to be a battle. "We're going to have some fun," Curry said.

"I was able to return that message tonight, saying the same thing," Morant said after Game 2. "I always say this is my favorite matchup, playing against a guy like him, a great talent. 'It's going to be a battle.'"

A battle, but also a mutual admiration society between Curry and Morant. Old-timers might hate it, the fraternity among this generation of top competitors, but it's a signature of the age. Curry is self-possessed enough to recognize a successor when he sees one. And Morant knows what a mentor looks like -- even on a night when he couldn't see clearly.

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Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Bounces back vs. Warriors

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Morant posted 36 points (15-29 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 4-7 FT), seven rebounds, eight assists and one steal across 41 minutes during Sunday's 123-109 loss to the Warriors.

Morant had been held to 12 points on 4-for-14 from the field in his team's last contest Friday in Phoenix, but he showed up on Christmas Day. The star point guard couldn't fully lock in from three, but he shot 51.7 percent from the field and made an impact on the glass and as a passer. Morant has reached the 30-point threshold in two of his last three games, averaging 27.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 9.7 assists over this brief span.

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Ja Morant's 47 points carries Memphis Grizzlies past Warriors in Game 2 of Western Conference semis

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Desmond Bane was hobbled. Dillon Brooks was ejected .

Ja Morant put the team on his back.

The Memphis Grizzlies' All-Star point guard took over with 18 fourth-quarter points and finished with a playoff career-high 47 against the Golden State Warriors. His last field goal came with the Grizzlies up by one point. He attacked the rim with fearlessness and finished over the raised arms of Golden State defenders.

Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson traveled on the next possession and Morant put the game away to the tune of MVP chants on Tuesday night at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies defeated the Warriors 106-101 to tie the Western Conference semifinals series 1-1. Game 3 is set for Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) in San Francisco.

Morant's historical performance puts him in rarified air. He joins LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as the only players to have multiple 45-point games in the NBA playoffs before turning 23 years old.

Here are some observations from Game 3:.

DRAYMOND GREEN: Draymond Green gives Memphis Grizzlies crowd double birds after taking elbow to face

EJECTED: Memphis Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks ejected for flagrant foul vs. Golden State Warriors

Live and survive by the 3-pointer

The Grizzlies ranked 23rd in the NBA with 32.7 3-point attempts per game in the regular season. They surpassed that total through three quarters.

Part of Golden State's plan was to make the Grizzlies shoot and limit their paint opportunities. Memphis made 16 of 40 3-pointers in Game 1. The efficiency wasn't the same, but Memphis got big makes when they needed them Tuesday. The Grizzlies made 14 of 45 3-pointers

Ziaire Williams missed the past two games due to right knee soreness. The Grizzlies trailed by three when he made two big fourth quarter 3-pointers to give them a 86-83 lead. Williams finished with 14 points and four made 3-pointers. Morant led the Grizzlies with five 3-pointers.

The Grizzlies also held the Warriors to 7-for-38 3-point shooting. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 27 points, but he made just 3 of 11 3-pointers. This was encouraging for the Grizzlies after Brooks left the game. The Warriors' 18.4% shooting from 3-point range was their lowest in franchise history in a game where they attempted 25 or more 3-pointers.

Lineup changes

Both teams started Game 2 with the same lineups as Game 1, but that only mattered for three minutes.

With 9:08 left in the first quarter, Brooks took a hard swipe across Gary Payton II's head and was ejected with a flagrant floul-2. Payton hit the floor hard and fractured his elbow. Warriors coach Steve Kerr talked before the game about expecting the Grizzlies to be more physical, but he took exception to that play by screaming at Grizzlies players as they walked back to their bench.

The Grizzlies lost one of their best wing defenders. and Payton — one of Golden State's best perimeter defenders — missed the rest of the game.

Jordan Poole started the second half of the Warriors and Williams started the third quarter in place of Brooks.

Jaren Jackson Jr . fouled out with 3:59 left in the fourth quarter. Jackson finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Desmond Bane is not 100%

Desmond Bane was listed as questionable with lower back soreness.

He didn't play with his same burst and couldn't create as much separation for his shots. Bane took a charge on Otto Porter Jr. with 6:33 left in the second quarter. After the play, Bane laid on the floor for a few seconds before getting up and walking gingerly to the bench.

Bane went scoreless in the second half but showed signs of life when he scored five points and grabbed three rebounds in the third quarter.

Contact Damichael Cole at [email protected] and on Twitter @damichaelc

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant scores 47, Memphis Grizzlies even Warriors series 1-1

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a]:underline [&>a]:text-team-secondary"> Ja Morant has averaged 22.4 points, 7.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 11 games against the Warriors in his career.

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What Ja being out for Game 4 of Warriors vs. Grizzlies means

By dalton johnson • published may 9, 2022 • updated on may 9, 2022 at 5:42 pm.

It's official: The Memphis Grizzlies will be without star point guard Ja Morant for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors on Monday night at Chase Center, Grizzlies coach Tayler Jenkins told reporters before the game. 

Morant has been ruled out with right knee soreness. 

Jenkins said that Tyus Jones will start in Morant's place

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The first-time All-Star and winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player award this season left the Warriors' Game 3 blowout win Saturday night early after appearing to hurt his right knee. Morant walked to the team bus on his own after the game, though he did have a clear limp. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins then insinuated Warriors guard Jordan Poole triggered Morant's injury on a dirty play by grabbing his knee and yanking it. 

Morant even went to Twitter to tweet a clip of the play that Jenkins referred to, with the caption "broke the code" -- something Steve Kerr accused Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks of when he wound up and clubbed Gary Payton II in the back of the head in mid-air during the Warriors' Game 2 loss, fracturing Payton's left elbow.

He later deleted the tweet.

However, a different angle of the play shows that Poole hardly grabbed Morant's knee while going for the ball as he and Andrew Wiggins double-teamed him. There also is evidence that Morant hurt the same knee earlier in the third quarter when jumping towards Klay Thompson and clanking knees, a play that looked to have caused much more pain for Morant than the Poole play in question. 

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Jenkins on Sunday dangerously doubled down on his feelings that Poole injured Morant, intentional or not.

"As I said last night, just trying to be matter-of-fact here," Jenkins said Sunday. "This is what Ja says, what our medical team has said after reviewing the play. I mean, Ja was playing great, feeling great all game and the grab of the knee is what triggered the potential injury and why we took Ja out of the game.

"Nothing has changed from there in terms of that was the play that triggered this and he's got further evaluation that's going on with his knee."

Morant played 36 minutes in Game 3 and still led both sides with 34 points. He also added seven assists, three rebounds and three steals before exiting early. 

The Grizzlies obviously are far less talented without Morant, but might not be far worse. At least that's what their regular-season record suggests. They went 20-5 without him, which amounts to an .800 win percentage. Memphis was 36-21 in games with Morant, good for a .632 win percentage. 

When Morant missed the Grizzlies' game against the Warriors on March 28, Memphis beat Golden State by 28 points. It should be noted that Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green also missed that game.

"Memphis went 20-5 without him," Kerr said Monday morning after shootaround when asked about Morant possibly not playing Game 4. "They're a hell of a team for a reason, they're really deep. While it may change a scheme or two in terms of how we're guarding, it doesn't change our respect for what they're capable of."

Minutes before the Morant news broke, the Warriors announced that Kerr has tested positive for COVID-19 and won't coach Game 4. Mike Brown will take over as acting head coach until Kerr is ready to return.

RELATED:  Ja's tweet, Grizzlies comments add fuel to fiery Dubs rivalry

With Morant stuck to the sidelines, the Grizzlies' offense might actually see more ball movement since Morant is so ball-dependent. They'll also need their role players to step up, like point guard Tyus Jones, as well as guards De'Anthony Melton and Brooks, who is returning from a one-game suspension but isn't much of an offensive threat anyway. 

Jones has scored just seven total points in the first three games of the second round, going 2-for-16 from the field and 0-for-8 on 3-point attempts. 

Yes, the Grizzlies had success without Morant in the regular season. These are the playoffs, though -- a whole new game compared to the previous 82.

Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. was phenomenal in Game 1, scoring 33 points to Morant's 34 as they lost by one point in the final second to the Warriors. But in Game 2, rookie Ziaire Williams was the Grizzlies' second-leading scorer with 14 points off the bench while Morant was a one-man show with 47 points, and Desmond Bane was their second-leading scorer on Saturday night but put up just 16 points. 

Losing Morant is a huge blow to the Grizzlies, and Game 4 could look much different than past contests between these two teams.

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Ja Morant with an and one vs the Golden State Warriors

Ja Morant ( Memphis Grizzlies ) with an and one vs the Golden State Warriors , 12/25/2022

Warriors call out Tari Eason’s shirt after win over Rockets: ‘That’s pretty lame’

HOUSTON — That familiar irritation, that gut-wrenching angst spawned by the sight of blue and gold, was back in the Toyota Center.

Houston ’s main characters had changed quite a bit from the Rockets- Warriors clashes of old. Head coach Ime Udoka now patrols the sidelines once paced by Mike D’Antoni. It’s now Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet facing off against the Splash Brothers, with James Harden and Chris Paul long gone. Role players like Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. have replaced P.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon . Most importantly, the two teams are vying for the No. 10 seed in the West, not the conference crown.

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In truth, Thursday night’s 133-110 blowout Warriors win was a far cry from the memorable encounters that gripped the league from 2015 to 2019, when the persistent Rockets dared stand up to the golden standard.

“It was a battle,” said Paul, now a Warrior. “It was fun.”

Comparison is the thief of joy, and attempting to collate basketball eras, especially ones between such different Rockets teams, comes with its own challenges. Those games were electric, but lightning never strikes twice in the same area.

“The stakes were much higher back then,” Klay Thompson said. “Western Conference Finals, West semis. Until it gets back to that, it won’t be the same.”

The ambition of youth inherently wars against tradition. It’s a right of passage for the young. Their vitality challenges the established custom, measuring its value. Worthy traditions survive.

That’s why you won’t find the Warriors upset about Tari Eason’s taunting or unnerved by Houston emerging out of nowhere as an imminent threat. These bears don’t mind being poked. Because the burden of the old is to school the young. Until they can’t.

“I believe in that,” Draymond Green said in an interview outside the visiting locker room. “Like I said on my podcast, if you’re Tari, you gotta be playing. But I’m never a fan of ‘You don’t poke the bear.’ No. You say what you’re gonna say and then you go compete. That’s what this is all about — don’t be afraid of anybody. I’m always in support of that.”

Either way, youth is rewarded, through the confidence of conquest or the wisdom of their humbling.

Thursday, at the Toyota Center, the Warriors (42-34) got a chance to put some youngsters in their place. And the Rockets (38-38), bursting at the seams with potential, got a valuable seminar in the potency of experience. The result: Golden State needs just two wins, two Houston losses or one win and one Houston loss to clinch at least the No. 10 seed.

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Houston’s players learned a couple of lessons in the loss that virtually ended its season. One, it is sometimes best to sneak up rather than bark. Two, this stranglehold Golden State has on Houston is significant. The Rockets are not quite good enough, nor the Warriors yet washed enough, to end what’s been a decade of dominance.

The rivalry between these two franchises, while lopsided in result, is one for the ages. The Rockets didn’t get a ring out of it, but will be legendary for pushing a dynasty to the brink during its peak in a way no other team did.

Which is why Eason’s challenge prompted a few eye rolls. Respected for his audacity and effort, the second-year forward, out for the season after undergoing surgery on his left leg, revealed the moisture behind his ears. He doubled down on his Instagram story invitation for the “WARRIORS!” to “come out to plaaaaaay” by wearing a t-shirt from the 1979 movie that spawned the saying.

“That’s pretty lame,” Thompson said in his postgame presser. “Especially if you’re not playing. It’s one thing if you’re playing, you’re out there competing, and you can back it up. But if you’re just gonna be trolling from the sideline, like, bro?”

Klay shook his head as he covered his face with his left hand.

“What are we doing?”

Tari Eason wore a shirt reading "Warriors come out to play" on Houston's bench vs. Golden State Friday. The Warriors won by 23 and hold a four-game lead in the race for the No. 10 seed in the West… and noticed Eason's taunt 😅 🎥 @anthonyVslater pic.twitter.com/ZlZ2Ds3F0c — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 5, 2024

Truth is, Thompson’s incredulity is born of the Warriors’ healthy respect for their rivalry with the Rockets. You get the sense they thought Eason was violating the spirit of the hardwood wars these franchises have waged.

“You always feel it in a sense,” Draymond Green said of the rivalry. “But these young guys were 10 years old when that battle was going on. For those guys, they’re not gonna feel that same thing that we may feel when it comes to it.”

Green’s assessment, in conjunction with Thursday’s humbling, represented the growth the Rockets have made this season while also displaying the chasm that still exists between themselves and the OGs in 4K.

Each of the Rockets’ past three opponents — the Mavericks , Timberwolves and Warriors — have dismantled them in different ways and made them look nothing like the team that put together a 13-2 record in March.

Jalen Green’s scorching past month only reaffirmed his importance to opposing teams, who will continue to pressure him in the same manner they do against the great scorers in this league. The Warriors held him to just 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting and four turnovers Thursday. Houston’s commitment to small ball in the wake of starting center Alperen Şengün’s injury , as encouraging it can be for Houston’s athleticism and pace , does come with its challenges, evident in Thursday’s 43-29 rebounding disparity. Warriors star Stephen Curry grabbed more rebounds (six) than any Rockets starter.

The Rockets’ schedule doesn’t lighten up, with dates with Miami, Dallas and Orlando on the horizon. Their chances of making the playoffs are slim to none, with the Warriors up four games in the West standings and vastly more in actuality.

“It looked like the moment was too big for a lot of players out there,” a frustrated Udoka said. “Looked like a deer in headlights a little bit. Either looked soft or scared, one or the other, that’s two bad things for a lot of our guys to have. Didn’t rise up to the moment like I thought we would.”

The Warriors, on the other hand, have bigger issues. They needed to beat the Rockets not merely to preserve their superiority over Houston, but to keep alive their hopes of hosting a Play-In game or, miraculously, jumping to the No. 8 seed or beyond.

So, no, hushing the young Rockets won’t make it on these Warriors’ resume. In their minds, they shouldn’t even be down this far in the standings, close enough for a rebuilding squad to breathe down their necks.

But it’s not nothing. A little extra motivation doesn’t hurt these days. And if the Warriors fighting for their Play-In lives is disappointing, imagine them getting knocked out by the Rockets, featuring Dillon Brooks.

The joy of beating Houston, especially in Houston, dates back as far as 2015, back when the Warriors built their names on beating James Harden and Dwight Howard. Lately, it’s become the way to keep them young.

Golden State is no stranger to the challenge of young teams. The Warriors survived Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies , proved too savvy for Boston in the 2022 NBA Finals, had just enough to stave off Sacramento last season. And they get a kick out of patting the Rockets on the head.

Remember when then-Rocket Kevin Porter Jr. tried to intimidate Curry? Remember what Curry did to Brooks earlier this season?

6. Curry Flurry CAPPED with the MOVES on Dillon Brooks pic.twitter.com/C9yxoGHe2N — WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) April 5, 2024

Thursday, it was Thompson trolling the Rockets. He had 21 points on 11 shots in the first half, hitting fadeaways, turnarounds and 3s in transition. Then, with Houston coming out of halftime looking to make a push, Thompson rebuffed the Rockets’ efforts with back-to-back 3s.

The feeling might not have been familiar to these particular players. But for the fans watching, in the arena and at home, who remember last decade’s battles with the Warriors, it must’ve felt like time travel. This same kind of shot-making prowess, though nowhere near past daggers through Houston hearts, has always kept the Rockets at bay.

While Golden State has some catching up to do with the best teams in the Western Conference, its ability to flip the switch against the likes of the Rockets is minor validation it still has juice in the tank.

The Rockets’ day will come. This group, playing without Şengün, has a bright future, with a coach who knows a thing or two about molding young talent. Eventually, someday, they will be emancipated from these Warriors.

Just not this year. Just not this day — or the last 12 consecutive tries, either. Because youth did what it does, challenging the status quo. And, like history subtly reminds us time and time again, the more things change, the more they indeed stay the same.

(Photo of Moses Moody dunking on the Rockets: Tim Warner / Getty Images)

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Ja Morant Makes Major Decision

This will change Ja Morant's future.

• Author: Farbod Esnaashari

In this story:

No NBA player has had a more tumultuous year than Ja Morant. From multiple suspensions to re-evaluating friends, to a season-ending injury, Morant has been through the wringer this season. Now, Morant has made another new life decision.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN, Ja Morant has parted ways with his longtime agent Jim Tanner. Tanner has represented Morant since the 2019 NBA Draft, where Morant was drafted number 2 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant and his longtime agent Jim Tanner have parted ways, sources tell ESPN. Tanner had represented Morant since coming out of Murray State as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 3, 2024

It's been a year of trials and tribulations for Ja Morant. He's had to make serious decisions about his friends, who he hangs around with, and now his agent. How this decision will affect Morant in the future remains to be seen. There are a plethora of options for Morant to sign with, including Klutch Sports. However, it's worth noting that Morant has still had some great deals with Nike and extremely popular shoes.

Next year will have to be a major year for Ja Morant. One where he shows that he's learned from all of his mistakes, and that he's ready to take up the mantle of most popular American player in the NBA. The future is there for the taking for Ja Morant. It's all just a matter of whether or not he's ready to step up and take it. Hopefully, he and the Grizzlies can remain healthy next season.

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Ja Morant parts ways with longtime agent

Source: Twitter @wojespn

What's the buzz on Twitter?

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant and his longtime agent Jim Tanner have parted ways, sources tell ESPN. Tanner had represented Morant since coming out of Murray State as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. - 3:28 PM

More on this storyline

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Memphis Grizzlies News

Gilbert Arenas Get Real On Ja Morant Firing His Agent: 'He’s Cleaning House…'

In the aftermath of Ja Morant parting ways with his longtime agent, Jim Tanner, there is growing confidence that Ja is finally on the right track to rebuilding his reputation. According to Gilbert Arenas, the move signals that Ja is ready for change after a chaotic couple of seasons in Memphis.

“I think he’s cleaning house, he’s surrounding himself with smarter people, people who are going to take him to that next step,” said Arenas on the Nightcap show. “The fact that he’s stayed out of the limelight, he's getting healthy… for the most part, his troubles were his cell phone and the fact that he’s laid low, I think everybody just can’t wait until next year with him.”

Unc and Gil are excited to see @JaMorant come back @ShannonSharpe @GilsArenaShow pic.twitter.com/ZsKCIedi5G — Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) April 6, 2024

Morant is still looking to remake his reputation from a series of scandals that rocked his career. Ranging from flashing his gun on Instagram Live to punching a teenager on the pickup court , Morant’s growing list of incidents was enough to earn punishment from the league itself and it’s why he missed the first third of the season.

While Ja’s own choices and actions are to blame, many critics hold firm to the idea that Morant’s inner circle of friends and advisors is who has been leading him astray. Whether this includes his agent or not is unclear, but that hardly matters with him out of the picture for good and now Ja can focus on writing his own story.

As for where the young star goes from here, that much is unclear at the moment but it’s obvious that he’s looking to rebrand himself and move on from the scandal that’s dominated his career. By changing those closest to him, and portraying a different image of himself, Morant may find some success in staying out of trouble and it could make a lot of ground in convincing the world that he has learned from his past mistakes.

The Memphis Grizzlies Will Rise Again

Morant was establishing himself as a bona fide superstar during his first few years in Memphis and he had the Grizzlies hovering as one of the top seeds in the West.

Together, Ja, Dillon Brooks, and Jaren Jackson Jr. were giving opponents a lot of trouble and they gave the Warriors a fierce challenge in the postseason. But between Morant’s scandals and various injuries, the Grizzlies were unable to keep up and the situation completely collapsed.

By the start of this campaign, Brooks was gone, Ja was suspended, and Steven Adams was ruled out for the season.

Unsurprisingly, the Grizzlies faded into obscurity without Morant this season and his mid-season injury after coming back killed any realistic hopes of a potential playoff run.

Despite wasting this season, however, Memphis is expected to be a major player in the standings next campaign, when Morant and Adams will return and the Grizzlies can re-take their place as a contender in the West.

The Grizzlies still have a long way to go before getting to that point, but Moramt seems more determined than ever to become the leader his team will need him to be in the years to come.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

• Cavaliers could potentially trade star guard 'well before' free agency
• Former Warriors GM has interesting revelation about team's investigation into infamous video leak
• The 'NBA MVP' quiz

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Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant parting ways with agent Jim Tanner | Report

Ja Morant is parting ways with his agent, Jim Tanner of Tandem Sports + Entertainment, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Tanner has represented Morant since he left Murray State and became the No. 2 overall pick for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Morant developed into one of the NBA's biggest stars over the past five seasons and did several community events assisted by his agency. In the summer of 2022, Morant helped refurbish 13 courts at Memphis parks.

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Later that summer, Morant signed a five-year contract extension with the Grizzlies worth $197 million. Morant's max contract could have bumped up to $39 million more after the 2023 season, but he did not make an All-NBA team.

Last summer, Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane matched Morant's status as the highest-paid Grizzlies player in franchise history. Bane has also been represented by Tandem Sports since being drafted in 2020.

Morant didn't make an All-NBA team in part because of a nine-game suspension after he brandished a gun in an Instagram Live video while at a Denver area nightclub. Morant had another similar video surface two months later in May 2023 while he was in a car. That led to a 25-game suspension at the start of the 2023-24 season.

Morant is currently out for the season after suffering a labral tear in his left shoulder.

BLOCKING IT OUT: Why the Memphis Grizzlies are not fazed by the rise of sports betting among fans

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant parting ways with agent Jim Tanner | Report

Ja Morant vs. Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers: Stats, Projections and Game Preview

View how Data Skrive uses AI here .

At FedExForum on Saturday, April 6, Ja Morant's Memphis Grizzlies (27-50) and the Philadelphia 76ers (42-35) meet, beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

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Grizzlies vs. 76ers Game Info

• Game Day: Saturday, April 6, 2024
• Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
• TV Channel: BSSE and NBCS-PH+
• Location: Memphis, Tennessee
• Arena: FedExForum
• Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo

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Ja Morant vs. Tyrese Maxey Fantasy Comparison

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Ja Morant vs. Tyrese Maxey Insights

Ja morant & the grizzlies.

• Morant's averages for the season are 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists, making 47.1% of his shots from the field and 27.5% from beyond the arc, with 1.6 triples per game.
• The Grizzlies are being outscored by 6.6 points per game, with a -509 scoring differential overall. They put up 106 points per game (30th in NBA), and allow 112.6 per outing (11th in league).
• Memphis ranks 22nd in the league at 42.5 rebounds per game. That's 3.1 fewer than the 45.6 its opponents average.
• The Grizzlies knock down 13.2 three-pointers per game (ninth-most in the league) at a 34.6% rate (29th in NBA), compared to the 13.4 their opponents make, shooting 38% from beyond the arc.
• Memphis and its opponents have been mostly even in the turnover battle. The Grizz commit 14.3 per game (26th in league) and force 14.3 (third in NBA).

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Tyrese Maxey & the 76ers

• Tyrese Maxey puts up 25.8 points, 3.7 boards and 6.3 assists per contest. Defensively, he averages 1 steal and 0.5 blocks.
• The 76ers have a +172 scoring differential, topping opponents by 2.2 points per game. They're putting up 114.2 points per game to rank 15th in the league and are allowing 112 per contest to rank ninth in the NBA.
• Philadelphia ranks 20th in the NBA at 42.6 rebounds per game. That's 1.7 fewer than the 44.3 its opponents average.
• The 76ers make 11.9 three-pointers per game (22nd in the league) at a 36.2% rate (19th in the NBA), compared to the 12 their opponents make while shooting 35.4% from beyond the arc.
• Philadelphia has committed 2.6 fewer turnovers per game than its opponents, averaging 11.2 (first in NBA play) while forcing 13.8 (fourth in the league).

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