The upstart Memphis Grizzlies went toe-to-toe with the eventual champion Golden State Warriors and built one of the best rivalries of 2022. The young Memphis Grizzlies made a surprising run to the playoffs last season behind the breakout season from Ja Morant. They took two regular-season games from the Grizzlies after the calendar flipped to
Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies has made his claim as the face of the next generation of superstars ready to take the game of basketball to another level. For this season, Ja Morant has been chosen as the very best NBA player under the age of 25 by the team here at The Step
The term unicorn is overused but it still fits for Jaren Jackson Jr. and he and his Memphis Grizzlies are ready to show you why. Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies is a man of many tastes. He is into high fashion and has music albums available for download. How many professional athletes balance such
Desmond Bane may not get the headlines that Ja Morant receives. All he does is make the Grizzlies’ offense more dangerous, and continue to prove those that wrote him off wrong. In case you didn’t know, Desmond Bane is underrated. Even when he is seemingly appropriately rated, that rating is wrong. It’s not because of
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) With so many veterans returning from injury, All-Star rosters should be loaded. But these five players could slip through as first-time All-Stars Thanks to a combination of injuries and age-related decline, the 2022 NBA All-Star Game was missing some familiar faces and featured seven first-time
Seldom does the opportunity arise to add a player like Kevin Durant to your franchise. Durant, a former MVP, 12-time All-Star, four-time scoring champ, and two-time finals MVP, was available, and then he wasn’t. Durant made his stance clear to Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai this summer: Change management and coaching, or trade me. Tsai,
A new team is now in the running for Brooklyn Nets star and trade piece Kevin Durant Kevin Durant has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, and while things have been reportedly slow-moving thus far, a new team joining the sweepstakes could be the catalyst needed to move things along. To this point, the
May 1, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) have words during game one of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports MLB Power Rankings: Padres get a facelift, Cubs buried in dirt by Tim
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images The Suns decided to keep DeAndre Ayton, derailing the plans of the Pacers. If that ruffled the feathers of Myles Turner, Indiana may have to make a trade. In what was a surprisingly fast-paced process with the NBA frozen from Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving/Donovan Mitchell trade anxiety, the DeAndre Ayton free
Draymond Green vs. Ja Morant is the new Twitter feud we never knew that we all needed. As Draymond Green gets ready for NBA championship parade No. 4, the Golden State Warriors star went after Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies franchise on Twitter late into Saturday night. Golden State was able to get past
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 07: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives towards the basket past Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors in the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on May 07, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO
NFL free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. joined up with Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to partake in Ja’s summer offseason party. Ja Morant’s Instagram timeline portrays a polished NBA lifestyle: there’s photos with the family, a few stylish photos with friends during a night out, and plenty of posts proving Ja is putting
Memphis Grizzles point guard Ja Morant and Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges are battling to see who can conduct the biggest offseason offense. During a boisterous house party on June 4, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant made a bold declaration: “I’m the only one who will show you how I really live.” Ever the
Gary Payton II of the Golden State Warriors says he has no bad blood for Dillon Brooks after his foul lead to him fracturing his elbow. The Golden State Warriors are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019. In the previous round against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors
May 20, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter in game two of the 2022 western conference finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Tiger Woods withdraws from PGA Championship: Golf Twitter applauds his effort by Cody Williams
After losing to the Golden State Warriors in six games, Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks made a bold statement about the future. The Grizzlies think it’s their time, but the Warriors aren’t ready to relinquish the Western Conference throne just yet. Despite losing to the Dubs in six games in the Western Conference Semifinals, Dillon
Steph Curry’s prediction that the Golden State Warriors would “whoop that trick” hilariously backfired, and the Memphis Grizzlies were sure to rub it in. Heading into Game 5, Steph Curry was a little too confident that the Warriors would dominate in Game 5. So confident, in fact, that Curry jazzed up his Memphis pre-game prediction
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MAY 11: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrates a basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at FedExForum on May 11, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 03: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors complains about a call against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at Golden 1 Center on April 03, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting
May 9, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) sits on the bench against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter of game four of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Steve Kerr showers Mike Brown with praise after
Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins provided an update on Ja Morant’s status for Game 4 against the Golden State Warriors, and it isn’t good. The Memphis Grizzlies are down 1-2 in their Western Conference Semi-Finals series against the Golden State Warriors, but the main story is the status of star Ja Morant. During the
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The second round of the playoffs kicked off Sunday with the Bucks dominating the Celtics and the Warriors barely eking out a victory over the Grizzlies in their respective
May 1, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) have words during game one of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports 3 veterans Steelers could cut after 2022 NFL Draft by Ethan Lee Draymond
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Clutch statistics, both for teams and players, are notoriously unreliable as predictors of future outcomes. They come with the requisite noise of small sample size, the context and style
May 3, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks (24) walks off the court after a flagrant two foul was call on him during the first half in game two of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Watch:
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MAY 01: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after being ejected during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on May 01, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or
Jan 11, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) watches as Memphis Grizzles guard Ja Morant (12) brings the ball up the court during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports 2022 NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks playoff schedule and prediction by Scott Rogust The
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning.’ The second round of the playoffs will kick off this weekend, with the Timberwolves and Grizzlies as the lone first-round series still in progress. To break down some of
Apr 21, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) talks to fans during a gamne against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter during game one of the three round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports 11 best viral tweets from Timberwolves historic collapse
The Minnesota Timberwolves seemingly had Game 3 won, but then an epic comeback by the Memphis Grizzlies happened. For those of you who walked away from your televisions thinking that the Minnesota Timberwolves had Game 3 secured, please sit down. We need to inform you about some news. The Memphis Grizzlies had an epic comeback
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – APRIL 26: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on April 26, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is
Ja Morant trolled the Minnesota Timberwolves following the Memphis Grizzlies’ epic Game 3 comeback victory. The Minnesota Timberwolves had to be feeling well entering the fourth quarter, as they had a 98-percent chance of winning Game 3 of their first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. Instead, they were outscored by 25 points and lost 104-95
Ja Morant’s heroics led the Memphis Grizzlies to a huge Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. That caught the attention of LeBron James and NFL stars. The Memphis Grizzlies hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5, searching to take a pivotal 3-2 series lead. Things certainly looked bleak for Memphis, as they trailed 85-74
Apr 21, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dad Tee Morant talks to Minnesota Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell (0) in the fourth quarter during game one of the three round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports Memphis Grizzlies: Whoop that trick meaning, explained
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Patrick Beverley #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket while Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies defends in the second quarter of the game during Game Four of the Western Conference First Round at Target Center on April 23, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User
Minnesota Timberwolves (Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports) Patchy Mix upsets Kyoji Horiguchi in thriller Bantamweight Grand Prix opener by Chad Porto NBA Twitter couldn’t believe another protester made it onto the court during the Grizzlies-Timberwolves NBA Playoffs series, but some see it as a good omen. Just call this the playoffs of protests for the Minnesota
The NBA’s regular season has come and gone, but an important question remains: What are the top 10 power dunks of the 2021-22 season? The NBA’s 75th Anniversary regular season commenced on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, and concluded on Sunday, April 10, 2022. The season featured 1,230 regular-season games across those six months. According to
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images Watch: Randy Arozarena launches bat after 2 awful calls in same at-bat by Mark Powell ESPN had some audio issues during Game 1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves vs Memphis Grizzlies series, and NBA Twitter had enough. With all due respect to the Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks series, there was
So far, the Timberwolves are two-for-two in fan protests this postseason, if you count the play-in. So, why are fans against Glen Taylor? Timberwolves protest, explained. Taylor sold the Timberwolves to a new group of owners, that of which includes former baseball star Alex Rodriguez. However, he is still connected to the franchise for now.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports) Errol Spence Jr. vs. Yordenis Ugás live results and highlights by Jeremy Herriges The fathers of Ja Morant and Karl-Anthony Towns shared some friendly banter after Game 1 between the Grizzlies and Timberwolves. Ja Morant and Karl-Anthony Towns have a rivalry on the court to worry
A woman chained herself to the basket during Game 1 of the Memphis Grizzlies’ playoff series vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. For the second postseason round in a row, the NBA has to deal with protestors interrupting Minnesota Timberwolves games, as a woman chained herself to the back of the basket during Game 1 of their playoff series
This season delivered a fascinating and unique MVP race, but only one of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić can take home the most sacred of the individual NBA awards. With Rookie, Coach, Sixth Man, Most Improved, All-Defense and Defensive Player of the Year awards taken care of, it’s time to wrap up the
With the NBA season almost finished, which players distinguished themselves most this year on the defensive end? Accurately evaluating NBA defense is an almost impossible endeavor, and opinions of individual defenders depend largely on the eye of the beholder. There are so many little things that happen (or don’t) within a possession that can fly
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The 50-40-90 season is one of the rarest achievements in the NBA record books. It requires a player to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent
With the start of the playoffs just a few days away, it’s time to hand out some awards for the 2021-22 NBA season. Amazingly, we are less than two weeks away from the end of the NBA season, which means it’s time to get to work on selecting 2021-22 award winners. I, of course, do
Mar 23, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) controls the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports USMNT vs Mexico: How Americans could qualify for World Cup tonight by Mark Powell Two young NBA players are making
We won’t know the full impact of Chris Paul’s injury for a while, but with a deep cast of skilled players, the Suns may have enough to thrive in spite of his absence. Once the strangeness of Chris Paul playing in the NBA All-Star Game with a fractured right thumb faded, a more pressing question
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies. (Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports) Steelers: Pros and cons of trading up for Kenny Pickett by Mark Powell Patrick Mahomes could not believe what Ja Morant did on the hardwood Monday night. It may be a tad premature, but Ja Morant’s coronation as the most exciting player in the NBA may
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. On Monday, Ja Morant put up his best performance of what had already been a remarkable season. He scored 52 points in a 13-point win over the San Antonio
Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports) NBA Twitter trolling Nets into oblivion for getting blown out by Celtics by Scott Rogust After taking Ja Morant out of the air with a dangerous blow to the face, Marcus Morris was ejected from the Clippers vs.
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. There is no hotter team in the NBA right now than the Memphis Grizzlies, who knocked off the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night to stretch their league-best win streak
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The NBA All-Starters will be announced tonight, with reserves to follow on Feb. 3. There are sure to be some surprises as the rosters are filled out but one
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Ja Morant went off for 25 points in Monday’s big win over the Chicago Bulls and, in what has become a season-long trend, did most of his damage in
Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, LeBron James complimented Ja Morant’s incredible chasedown block that aided their win. In their marvelous 127-119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Memphis Grizzlies brought the heat to L.A., pushing the Lakers to perfectly execute on every shot. And even on perfectly-executed shots, the
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers played on Sunday night, though I was not among those who tuned in. I was watching a movie instead. It was not
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. If you were to delineate contenders by statistical resumes alone, ignoring the noise of injuries and COVID-related absences, you’d really find just three teams this season, all in the
More than one basketball lifetime separates the birth of LeBron James and Ja Morant. In sharing this time and space, they give us the best of both worlds. Ja Morant is a lot of fun right now. Ja Morant is likely to be fun for a while. There is a Paul Rudd uncorking a bottle
It’s uncommon for an NBA team to play its best basketball after losing its best player, yet the Memphis Grizzlies have taken off since Ja Morant’s injury. Plus: A look at the Timberwolves’ surprisingly stingy defense. It’s uncommon for an NBA team to play its best basketball immediately after losing its best player and offensive
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. If you are the kind of perverse sports fan who enjoys extreme blowouts, Thursday night must have been an absolute delight. The Grizzlies beat the Thunder 152-79 (a 73-point
Dec 2, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ty Jerome (16) goes to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports MLB trade grades: Who won Hunter Renfroe-Jackie Bradley Jr. swap? by Scott Rogust The Oklahoma City Thunder were humbled
Former Celtics and Grizzlies guard Tony Allen. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Watch: Tommy Rees’ speech to Notre Dame players about staying was utterly awesome by Alicia de Artola Former Celtics and Grizzlies guard Tony Allen was arrested and charged with domestic assault after an altercation with his wife near Memphis. Tony Allen’s retirement really isn’t going
Nov 1, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Jeff Green (32) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzles guard Desmond Bane (22) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports NBA reportedly looking to start it’s own version of ManningCast by Scott Rogust Jeff Green of the Denver Nuggets
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The first few weeks of the NBA season are always dotted with breakout performers, players showing significant skill growth, or just taking advantage of new roles or opportunities. Over
Going into his third season, the Ja Morant appears poised to make The Leap. Can he be the player the Grizzlies have never had? On May 14, 2019, I spent the majority of my day thinking about a 6.6 percent chance. The NBA Draft Lottery was that night, and those were the odds that the
With Kawhi Leonard out for most, if not all, of the season, can Paul George step into a primary role and keep the Clippers in the playoffs? The Clippers are in a certain kind of NBA limbo, though not one of their own making. Kawhi Leonard’s torn ACL may have dashed the franchise’s championship hopes
Memphis has always been a city of music. Here are three songs that sum up the city’s newest young star, Ja Morant. Great NBA players have a tell, some signature tic or stylistic element that makes them who they are. Observant viewers could see a silhouette of Kevin Durant’s jumper or of Chris Paul bringing
Heading into a contract year, can Jaren Jackson Jr. re-establish himself as a core piece of the Memphis Grizzlies alongside Ja Morant? One year ago, Jaren Jackson Jr. appeared to be headed toward a max contract extension. He was fresh off a sophomore season in which he averaged 17.4 points while shooting 39.4 percent from
Despite not being as deep from top to bottom as the Eastern Conference, the West is still loaded with championship contenders. The Los Angeles Lakers have reloaded with Russell Westbrook at point guard. The Utah Jazz earned the best record in the league last year and return with the same roster. The Golden State Warriors
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. On Wednesday, it was announced that the Memphis Grizzlies have planned jersey retirement ceremonies this season for both Tony Allen and Zach Randolph. These two jersey retirements, and the
(Image courtesy of ATP) The world’s best basketball league gets back underway on Tuesday, October 19 – there are some gems of games in store for fans during week-1, and the Basketball Insiders team has been quick to action too, scouring sportsbooks to present our early bird NBA betting picks! Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks get
Rajon Rondo, LA Clippers. (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) Florida vs. Florida Atlantic prediction, odds, spread, line, over/under & betting info for NCAA Week 1 by Alicia de Artola The Memphis Grizzlies are about to pay a fourth player to go play for the Los Angeles Lakers. For many former star players to
The Los Angeles Lakers are front-runners to sign four-time All-Star Rajon Rondo. Referencing betting odds from Bovada, the Lakers have -130 odds of signing the player, followed by the Memphis Grizzlies (+120) and Golden State Warriors (+500). On November 23, 2020, he signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Then, he was
The Los Angeles Clippers are heading back to 2013, shipping Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu to the Grizzlies for Eric Bledsoe. Eric Bledsoe is a Clipper. Welcome back to 2013! Los Angeles is trading Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu to the Grizzlies for their former point guard, according to Adrian Wojnarowski
According to sources, the Memphis Grizzlies are trading Patrick Beverley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez. Gersson Rosas, the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations, is familiar with Beverley’s style of play and work ethic, considering he was the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Houston Rockets, where he previously
This week on The Long Two, the Grizzlies take low-risk fliers on two potential reclamation projects and Joel Embiid continues a superstar trend. While most of the NBA spent the last month working at a frenetic pace, the Memphis Grizzlies operated slowly and under the radar. Over the course of the last four days, Memphis
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Andrew Lopez, the New Orleans Pelicans are shipping guard Eric Bledsoe, center Steven Adams, the Nos. 10 and 40 picks of the 2021 NBA Draft, and two future first-round picks to the Memphis Grizzlies for center Jonas Valanciunas and the Nos. 17 and 51 picks of this week’s upcoming
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) Ian Rapoport tells Packers fans to ‘buckle up’ regarding Aaron Rodgers by Braulio Perez Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue has officially ruled out star Kawhi Leonard for Game 6 against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. The Los Angeles Clippers are one win
Basketball Insiders’ “Now What” series examines teams on the precipice of success. Some will succeed in their attempt to join the elite, while others will squander an opportunity or are simply out of time. Today, we’ll dissect the New York Knicks, their 2020-21 season and where they go from here. The New York Knicks had
Ja Morant’s dad had heartfelt words for Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell after the Memphis Grizzlies were eliminated from the playoffs. There are no perfectly happy endings when it comes to people suffering harassment, especially when it’s racially motivated. That trauma will always remain. Still, good can always come out of bad situations. Ja Morant’s
Ja Morant’s mother won’t go to Game 5 between the Grizzlies and Jazz in Utah after facing racial harassment from fans earlier in the series. A contingent of Ja Morant’s family members will attend Wednesday night’s Game 5 in Salt Lake City. Morant’s mother won’t be one of them. Jamie Morant plans to stay home
Former Houston Rockets guard Vernon Maxwell once again went in on the Utah Jazz after three fans had to be ejected for verbally abusing Ja Morant’s family. The relationship between fans and NBA players, especially as it relates to race, has become an unfortunate topic of discussion during the playoffs. On Wednesday, three fans were
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant spoke out about the Utah Jazz fans who were harassing his family in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Ja Morant has had himself a tremendous start to the 2021 NBA Playoffs. In his very first playoff outing, the 21-year-old point guard put up 26 points in a surprising
Entering the season, there were high hopes for the Indiana Pacers following an impressive bubble showing and eruption from T.J. Warren. However, the team finished at a disappointing 34-38 mark, finishing at ninth in the Eastern Conference and getting eliminated in the play-in tournament. A myriad of factors played into Indiana’s rough season, but no
The Utah Jazz have banned three fans indefinitely for reportedly heckling the family of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. The return of fans for the 2021 NBA Playoffs have been universally lauded, but things turned ugly all across the league on Wednesday night. From a Philadelphia 76ers fan dumping popcorn on Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook
Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports Memorial Day 2021: Is Chipotle open? by Natalie Abele Ja Morant tried to dunk over Rudy Gobert. It did not end well. Ja Morant may be on his Grizzly, but Rudy Gobert is on a collision course with his third Defensive Player of the Year award, and he wasn’t
This week on The Long Two: Early returns on Devin Booker, Trae Young, and Ja Morant in the playoffs. Plus, how Luka Dončić is picking the Clippers apart. NBA players establish reputations over hundreds, if not thousands, of regular-season repetitions, but the playoffs are where those reputations are stress-tested. We may have a good idea
Donovan Mitchell was less-than-thrilled about not playing for the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of their Western Conference Playoffs series vs. the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. The Utah Jazz medical staff holding out star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell in Game 1’s playoff game vs. the Memphis Grizzlies was a controversial and ill-advised decision. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon
May 21, 2021; San Francisco, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) hugs Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) after the game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Bellator 259: Leandro Higo edges Darrion Caldwell in rematch by Adam Stocker Bellator 259: Cris Cyborg stops Leslie Smith again in closing
NBA fans saw an up-and-down battle Wednesday night that ultimately ended with the Memphis Grizzlies taking care of business and eliminating the San Antonio Spurs. Wednesday night’s game between the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs got off to an ugly start. The Spurs fell behind by 20 points early, but the comeback was on
Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks. (Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports) Tyler Seguin still has a challenging road ahead by Mark Carman Celtics fans aim NSFW chant at Kyrie Irving ahead of Nets playoff matchup (Video) by Braulio Perez NBA Twitter went all caps crazy when Dillon Brooks put an exclamation point on the Memphis Grizzlies’ hot start
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (Photo by Brandon Dill/Getty Images) 4 key offseason moves Golden State Warriors absolutely must make by Mark Powell Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was watching Warriors-Grizzlies like the rest of us, and he was impressed by Ja Morant. Just days after beating
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The NBA’s play-in tournament kicks off Tuesday and every team will need stars and role players to come up big. Here’s the secret weapon each team will count on.
Ja Morant is an incredibly rare young talent, a productive star comfortable working with every element of basketball style. Style and aesthetics are an indelible part of basketball but the conversation around them is pure chaos. For a purely qualitative set of ideas, it’s not surprising that things are moving in every direction at once.
Ja Morant is the Memphis Grizzlies‘ latest superhero but with great power comes great responsibility. I am watching Into the Spider-Verse and thinking about Ja Morant. I am watching Into the Spider-Verse and thinking about how with great power there must also come great responsibility. I am watching Into the Spider-Verse and thinking about great
Trae Young called out Grayson Allen on Twitter for allegedly tripping him during Saturday’s Atlanta Hawks-Memphis Grizzlies game. During the NBA preseason, Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young got acquainted with Memphis Grizzlies guard Grayson Allen. And by acquainted, we mean that Young shoved Allen and created a brief scuffle between both teams. The
Ja Morant led the Grizzlies to a surprising playoff berth last season, but the odds are stacked against Memphis replicating that feat. The Grit N’ Grind era is over in Memphis, but Ja Morant gives the Grizzlies more star power than ever before. This season might be too soon for Morant to lead his young
As the Memphis Grizzlies weigh a move over the next couple weeks, Gorgui Dieng has surfaced as a name to watch. Coming out of the All-Star break, the Memphis Grizzlies are a .500 team (16-16) and within range of a playoff spot in the Western Conference (10th place). The question they have to ask themselves