*Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant fiercely defended his ci ty after ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith’s assertion that NBA players shy away from Memphis due to safety concerns.
As Fox News reports, the debate erupted during a “First Take” segment featuring Smith and NBA brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris, who discussed the Grizzlies’ future and questioned whether Memphis should trade Morant and pursue a full rebuild, given the team’s 48-34 record.
Smith highlighted perceived safety issues, stating, “The people in Memphis, it’s a great sports town — great fans, great people — but there’s an element there where cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel like it’s the safest environment. I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis. You’ve got to clean some of that stuff up because it’s dissuasive to NBA players.”
Watch Smith’s full remarks in the clip below.
Morant, without directly naming Smith, took to X to dismiss the claims, posting, “talkin bout the grizz more than the finals [laughing emoji] wit these [cap emoji] ahh sources,” urging focus on Finals stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Pascal Siakam instead.
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He affirmed his commitment to Memphis, writing, “ima be in dat 901…source: ME!!”
Smith also addressed Morant’s past, noting his “foolish mistake” with gun-related incidents that led to NBA suspensions but calling him a “good brother” otherwise.
However, he criticized Morant’s availability, stating, “Did you know he was on the injured list 15 times this season with eight different ailments — hamstring, shoulder, knee, foot, hip, thigh, illness? Fifteen times. The best ability is availability.”
Despite these challenges, Morant, a dynamic guard, averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists over 50 games in his sixth season, per Fox News.
MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Bad Boy Ja Morant Flashes Gun … Again in New Video – Suspended from Team Activities | WATCH
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