Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies have been the most popular workforce within the NBA for the previous couple of weeks, using a stretch of 9 wins within the final 10 video games to rise to the highest of the Western Conference standings. Morant and the Grizzlies traveled to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night time, and a tough second quarter for Memphis went from dangerous to worse when Morant was ejected earlier than halftime.
The Thunder beat the Grizzlies, 115-109, in a sport marred by Morant’s ejection for a seemingly pleasant interplay with a courtside fan. Just earlier than halftime, Morant was speaking backwards and forwards with a fan earlier than referee Ray Acosta kicked the famous person level guard out of the sport. Morant continued to gesture to the fan as he was leaving the courtroom, seemingly signaling that it was all good between them. As the Thunder continued to take management of the sport with Morant within the locker room, his father Tee Morant did FaceTime with Ja and went over to speak with the followers he obtained ejected for speaking to.
Watch Morant’s ejection right here:
What did Morant actually get kicked out for? This appears like an extremely comfortable ejection, and it robs the OKC followers who paid excessive ticket costs to return to the sport an opportunity to see a famous person like Morant for 4 quarters. The Grizzlies appear to have no thought what Morant did to deserve the ejection. For his half, Morant gave the fan thumbs up as he walked off the ground.
Here’s video of Morant’s dad going over the courtside followers so Ja might communicate with them over FaceTime:
Hilarious video.
Ja Morant obtained kicked out of the sport in OKC for speaking to a fan. The fan seemingly didn’t suppose Ja ought to’ve been ejected. Next factor you realize, Ja is on FaceTime (through his dad’s telephone) smiling and speaking to the fan from the locker room.pic.twitter.com/w2Z2QnrekH
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) December 18, 2022
The officers defined why Morant was ejected after the sport. They stated he was assessed the primary technical foul as a result of he used profanity directed at an official, after which he obtained a second technical for questioning the integrity of the officiating.
Here is the complete pool report on why Ja Morant was accessed his second technical foul.
“Morant was assessed a technical foul for use of profanity directed at an official.” pic.twitter.com/F8qA1bJi4A
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) December 18, 2022
Here’s Morant’s response to the officers’ rationalization. Cap means lie.
No one is coming to the sector to see the refs. They want to relax out, management the sport, and let the very best gamers resolve the result.
The Grizzlies stay on high of the West regardless of the loss as a result of the New Orleans Pelicans additionally misplaced to the Phoenix Suns. Memphis’ seven-game profitable streak isn’t any extra, and so they’re about to examined with video games in opposition to the Nuggets, Suns (x2), Raptors, Pelicans, and Kings looming (additionally the Stephen Curry-less Warriors).
This is the strangest ejection of the NBA season thus far. Let’s hope Morant can preserve being himself whereas staying on the courtroom.