The Memphis Grizzlies may finally be nearing a breaking point with Ja Morant.
Once seen as the face of the franchise, Morant’s latest one-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team” has reignited questions about whether Memphis is ready to move on from its star guard.
Shams Charania explained the situation in depth and revealed that other NBA teams are keeping an eye on how things play out.
“There’s been tension in the last several days around Ja Morant and his feelings toward first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo’s rotation patterns and his plays,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. “But it really culminated after and during the loss to Lakers on Friday night in the postgame locker room. Morant and Iisalo had an exchange, where Iisalo called out Morant’s leadership and effort in front of the whole team. And as teammates and staffers all looked on, Morant responded in what the team deemed an inappropriate and dismissive way, according to sources.”
“…For now, Morant is expected to rejoin the team on Monday at home against the Detroit Pistons. The sides are looking to move past this, Gary, and move on. … Teams across the league, though, are monitoring this, keeping an eye on where this relationship stands between Ja Morant and the Grizzlies.”
Joining @SportsCenter AM to discuss details on Ja Morant’s one-game suspension with the Memphis Grizzlies and what’s next: pic.twitter.com/AqDxkPQ7LZ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 2, 2025
Whether the two sides can actually move forward remains uncertain.
Since signing a five-year, $197.2 million contract extension in 2022, Morant’s time in Memphis has been marred by controversy.
He was suspended multiple times for gun-related incidents, including a 25-game ban to start the 2023–24 season.
Morant briefly seemed to be putting the past behind him, even hitting a game-winning shot against Phoenix just days before the latest fallout.
The relationship between Morant and the organization feels more fragile than ever before.
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