The Memphis Grizzlies received a boost to their lineup on Monday night with point guard Ja Morant returning to the floor. Morant had missed the previous 12 games because of a knee sprain and the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
He returned in time to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that the Grizzlies set the record for largest margin of victory against, winning 152-79, while Morant was sidelined. Unfortunately for Memphis, things didn’t go as well this time around.
Things looked like they could go similarly after Memphis opened up a 28-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. But, Oklahoma City won every quarter after that, picking up a 102-99 victory on the road.
It led to some tough moments for Ja Morant, who drew the ire of some fans during the game.
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There were some “fans” who had the audacity to yell out that they wish Morant would sit back out again, shared by Drew Hill of the Daily Memphian.
“It’s frustrating for me, watching this team while I was out and the type of basketball they were playing,” Morant said. “We beat this team by 73, and then we lose the day I come back against this team. It’s frustrating. I was already in my head coming back out and trusting my knee after missing 12 games. Basketball is my escape, I feel at my best when I play. So, it’s really frustrating.
“Even during the game, I was running down the court and I heard some of my fans courtside tell me I need to sit back out. So, I just don’t understand what they wanted to get out of that. I feel like that just makes it worse.”
The Memphis Grizzlies went 10-2 in the 12 games without their starting point guard, which was an impressive stretch for the team. But, for fans to essentially tell a player I wish you were hurt again, that is a tough pill to hear.
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Morant has been adored by the fans. He was hearing chants at every home game and putting up some monster performances, on pace for a career season. But, the comments made during his return frustrated him, and rightfully so.
“It’s a lot, man. I’m excited to be back and I’m thankful for my teammates because they have tried to keep my spirits up and tell me not to worry about what people say. But, it’s hard not to see that stuff,” Morant said, per Hill. “I mean, it’s easy when I see it, but when I’m running down the court midgame and hear it from the people that were chanting ‘M-V-P’ a while ago, it’s frustrating.
“I’m just frustrated. Normally — y’all have seen it — when anybody says something negative about me, it fuels me. But, tonight, the remarks from the fans actually hurt. I’m going to do what I normally do and bounce back and I’m very excited for this next game.”
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Fans are passionate about their team, but this is crossing a line. As he stated, it wasn’t long ago these people were cheering loudly for him. He even had a solid performance, scoring 16 points with eight assists, six rebounds, two steals and one block in 28 minutes in his return.
When visiting fans say things of that nature, it is easy to get motivated by it. We have seen plenty of players thrive off of the negativity that fans of the opposing teams, motivating them to play at another level. But, when it is the home fans jeering you, and saying things like that not booing, it is tough to overcome.
No team is going to go 82-0. Giving Ja Morant this kind of reception upon his return from injury is a bad look for Memphis Grizzlies fans, even if it was only a handful of people doing it. Playing at the level he did after being sidelined for as long of a stretch as he was, Morant deserved a warm welcome, not what he received.
