Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant appeared to lay blame for his struggles and the team’s latest loss squarely at the feet of the coaching staff Friday night, offering terse, pointed responses to reporters following a 117-112 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The frustration boiled over after the Grizzlies blew a 14-point halftime lead and Morant had one of his least effective performances of the season, scoring a season-low eight points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field. When questioned about his poor outing, the two-time All-Star repeatedly deflected, suggesting the answers lay with the team’s sideline personnel.
“Go ask the coaching staff,” Morant said multiple times.
He offered an even more jarring comment when pressed on what the team could have done better following the collapse.
“According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly,” Morant said, indicating his remark stemmed from a conversation in the locker room. “That’s basically what the message was. It’s cool.”
Ja Morant when asked questions from the media:
“Go ask the coaching staff.”
And then asked what could have been done differently, other than asking the coaching staff:
“According to them, probably don’t play me.”
(🎥 @50NuancesDeNBA)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 1, 2025
The remarks shine a light on rising tension between the franchise player and first-year coach Tuomas Iisalo. Morant has been averaging a career-low 28.5 minutes through six games this season as the team navigates a challenging start. Iisalo’s postgame news conference concluded before he could be questioned about Morant’s pointed comments, leaving the remarks hanging over the struggling franchise.
Time for Memphis to Consider a Blockbuster Trade?
The situation in Memphis has clearly reached a tipping point, and the Grizzlies organization must seriously evaluate whether Ja Morant remains the right centerpiece for their future.
Morant’s explosive, game-changing talent is undeniable, but his recent public comments—and a string of disruptive off-court issues over the past two seasons—have made him a volatile foundation for a championship contender. A franchise player openly challenging the coaching staff signals a locker room rift that will be difficult, if not impossible, to repair, regardless of the coach’s identity.
The Grizzlies’ window as a young, ascending team is threatened not by a lack of raw ability, but by a lack of stability and unity emanating from their star. If Morant is already creating significant internal friction with a new regime installed to stabilize the franchise, the front office must protect the long-term culture and attitude of their other core players, such as Jaren Jackson Jr.
A trade, while painful, could be the necessary reset. Moving Morant now, while his value remains sky-high due to his age and athleticism, could net the Grizzlies a massive haul of draft capital and established players to build a more stable, mature, and predictable contender. It’s time for the Memphis front office to weigh Morant’s immense talent against the undeniable potential for ongoing organizational chaos. The latter might cost them more than just games; it could cost them their entire window of contention.
