Ja Morant

Grizzlies Notes: Morant, Jackson, Iisalo, Wells

November 4th, 2025 at 10:48am CST by Luke Adams

After serving a one-game suspension on Sunday for conduct detrimental to the team, Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant was back in action on Monday vs. Detroit. Morant registered a double-double, with 18 points and 10 assists, but turned the ball over five times and made just 5-of-16 shots from the floor in an eight-point loss to the Pistons.

Asked after the game if he feels as if the conflict that led to his suspension has been resolved (Twitter video link Matt Infield of WMC Action News 5), Morant replied, “Yeah, they (head coach Tuomas Iisalo) told y’all that, right? Obviously they can’t go and tell you something I didn’t say.”

Morant added that he feels like he has a good relationship with the franchise, telling reporters, “If I didn’t have a good relationship, I wouldn’t talk to them at all.” However, when asked if he’s playing with the same “joy” that he has in the past, the 26-year-old responded with a simple “no.”

What can be done to get that joy back? “We’ll see,” Morant said.

Here’s more on the Grizzlies:

Iisalo’s substitution patterns have resulted in Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. playing far less often together than usual so far this season. Entering Monday’s game, the duo was averaging just 14.6 minutes per game after averaging 21.4 in 2024/25. According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN (YouTube link), Morant isn’t the only Grizzlies star who hasn’t been thrilled with Iisalo’s rotation decisions. “I think Jaren, from what I hear, is equally as frustrated,” Spears said during an NBA Today segment.
Memphis’s record dropped to 3-5 on Monday, but Jackson remains confident that the current group is capable of more than it has shown so far. “We have all the tools and pieces,” Jackson said (Twitter video link via Grind City Media). “We have everything we need to be successful. So it’s not something I’m too worried about, but the urgency’s got to be there.”
A Rookie of the Year finalist in 2024/25, Grizzlies wing Jaylen Wells is looking to avoid a sophomore slump — he’s off to a slow start, with his shooting percentages dropping from .425/.352/.822 last season to .352/.256/.643 through seven games this year. “Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever missed this many shots in my life, but I’m going to keep shooting it,” Wells said on Monday, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link). “I know how many shots I put in every day.”
In case you missed it, we published a separate round-up of Grizzlies notes on Monday evening.

Grizzlies Notes: Coward, Iisalo, Morant, Edey

November 3rd, 2025 at 9:38pm CST by Rory Maher

In an interesting story for Andscape, Marc J. Spears details Cedric Coward‘s unconventional journey to the NBA. The Grizzlies wing, who was selected 11th overall in June’s draft, had no Division I offers as a high school senior and spent his freshman college season on a non-athletic scholarship at Willamette University, a Division III school in Salem, Oregon.

“It was hard to believe I could go to the NBA then, if I’m being honest,” Coward said. “But I had to because I’m a big believer in manifestation and seeing where you want to be in life. And I always watch basketball all the time, especially NBA games. You have to imagine yourself on the court. Either that or the dream can die.

“And for me, even though it was hard, I felt as if I was working out for a team or I was on the court in a game. Even though I wasn’t in that situation, you had to keep believing in yourself. And for me, I had to keep making that vision possible, or in my mind at least.”

As Spears writes, after a strong freshman campaign for the Bobcats, Coward transferred to mid-major Eastern Washington. He had a relatively modest role as a sophomore, but started to garner NBA attention during his junior season and tested the draft waters in 2024 before withdrawing. Coward transferred to Washington State as a senior and was off to a terrific start before a torn labrum in his shoulder ended his season early.

Despite only playing six games for the Cougars, the 22-year-old rose up draft boards due to his elite efficiency and an excellent performance at the combine. After shaking off some rust during the preseason, Coward has impressed both the Grizzlies and people around the NBA, averaging 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals on .587/.478/.909 shooting through seven games (25.3 minutes per contest).

“The first thing you got to know about Cedric is his approach to the game and his professionalism,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said, per Spears. “That is what’s driving the daily development. He has tremendous tools for a wing. He’s got great length, physicality. He’s athletic. He’s skilled. So, he has all the tools in place.

“It’s been a tremendous learning curve for him, obviously, not having played a lot in the last year because of his injury and then jumping from a relatively low level to the NBA. So, it’s been really impressive what he has been able to do in a short amount of time and with a short amount of practice time and live games.”

We have more from Memphis:

Prior to Monday’s contest, Iisalo was asked about the one-game suspension Ja Morant received for conduct detrimental to the team. Iisalo reportedly challenged Morant’s “leadership and effort” after Friday’s loss to the Lakers, and Morant responded in an “inappropriate and dismissive way.” According to Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian (Twitter link), Iisalo repeatedly said, “We had a discussion and we’re all looking to move forward and beat the Pistons tonight” anytime he was asked about the incident.
Although Iisalo didn’t reveal much about the Morant situation, he did broadly discuss his substitution patterns, which is reportedly one of the issues Morant has with the Finnish coach, who is in his first full season at the helm. To briefly summarize the in-depth response (Twitter link via Herrington), Iisalo said that while he understands that players might be accustomed to playing longer stretches at a time, the goal of the shorter shifts is to find a competitive advantage for the team, both now and going forward.
A combination of off-court incidents, injuries, and declining production has Sam Quinn of CBS Sports questioning whether it’s time for Memphis to move on from Morant after his latest controversy. While Quinn argues the Grizzlies may be better off without Morant, he acknowledges finding a trade partner would be tricky, and the team likely wouldn’t get much in return for the 26-year-old guard, who is on a maximum-salary contract that runs through 2027/28.
Second-year center Zach Edey is progressing from offseason ankle surgery, having been assigned to and then recalled from the Memphis Hustle in order to practice with the G League club on Monday (Twitter links via the Grizzlies). It’s an encouraging sign for the Grizzlies, who have been without Edey and Brandon Clarke (knee surgery) to open the season.

Stein’s Latest: Morant, W. Green, Borrego, Vucevic, Irving, Davis

November 3rd, 2025 at 9:02am CST by Arthur Hill

Trade speculation regarding Ja Morant has perked up following his confrontation with the coaching staff and subsequent one-game suspension, but the idea of the Grizzlies moving Morant isn’t a new concept, Marc Stein of The Stein Line writes in his latest Substack column (subscription required).

Rival teams have been monitoring Morant’s situation in Memphis since this summer, according to Stein, when the organization gave a huge extension to Jaren Jackson Jr. but didn’t pursue a similar deal with Morant. The Grizzlies unloaded salary for a renegotiation and extension that resulted in a new deal for Jackson valued at an estimated $240MM over five years.

Regarding Morant, who has two years at $87MM+ left on his current deal after this season, Stein notes that general manager Zach Kleiman called this “a big season for Ja” at media day, adding, “I think it is fair to say as we continue to build this team, to be able to achieve a high-end outcome, we need Ja to be a consistent All-NBA-caliber player.”

Stein also points out that Kleiman has “very publicly backed” head coach Tuomas Iisalo in the current dispute with Morant.

Stein offers m0re inside information from around the league:

Sunday’s 31-point loss at Oklahoma City is turning up the heat on Pelicans coach Willie Green, Stein adds. At 0-6, New Orleans is one of two remaining winless teams and time may be running out to salvage the season. They already have three 30-point losses, and there are serious concerns about whether the Pelicans have enough shooting and play-making to work their way into the play-in race. Stein notes that owner Gayle Benson is fond of Green, and there were rumors that she forced Joe Dumars to keep him in place when he took over as head of basketball operations. New Orleans is under pressure to win this season after sending an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to Atlanta in the Derik Queen trade, so patience with Green might be very thin. Stein notes that the Pelicans denied a request from the Knicks to interview associate head coach James Borrego this summer to become the lead assistant on Mike Brown‘s staff. Stein states that there were whispers behind the scenes that the organization was keeping Borrego in anticipation of a potential coaching change.
Nikola Vucevic was heavily involved in trade speculation dating back to last season’s deadline, but he’s rewarding the Bulls‘ decision to hold onto him, Stein notes. The 35-year-old center, who has an expiring $21.5MM contract, is off to a fast start, averaging 19.3 points and 12.3 rebounds through six games. His trade value is increasing, but Chicago may decide to keep him if it remains in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Head coach Jason Kidd offered hope over the weekend that Kyrie Irving may be back sooner than expected, but sources tell Stein that the timeline for the Mavericks guard should still be considered “fluid.” Stein was surprised to see Anthony Davis going through a pregame workout Saturday at Mexico City. Davis is sidelined with a low-grade left calf strain and will be reevaluated on Tuesday after the team returns from its current road trip.

Latest On Grizzlies, Ja Morant

November 2nd, 2025 at 10:14am CST by Rory Maher

Appearing on SportsCenter on Sunday morning (YouTube link), ESPN’s Shams Charania provided more details on what led to Ja Morant receiving a one-game suspension for what the Grizzlies called conduct detrimental to the team.

“There has been tension in the last several days around Ja Morant and his feelings toward head coach Tuomas Iisalo‘s rotation patterns, his plays, but it really culminated after — and during — the loss to the Lakers on Friday night,” Charania said.

“In the post-game locker room, Morant and Iisalo had an exchange where Iisalo called out Morant’s leadership and effort in front of the whole team,” Charania continued. “And as teammates and staffers all looked on, Morant responded in what the team deemed an inappropriate and dismissive way, according to sources.

“And that’s when the Grizzlies, their team officials huddled up. They levied a one-game suspension on Ja Morant he will serve on Sunday in Toronto.”

Charania was then asked how the Grizzlies and Morant planned to proceed after the incident.

“For now, Morant is expected to rejoin the team on Monday at home against the Detroit Pistons,” Charania replied. “The sides are looking to move past this 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.”

Morant, a two-time All-Star, has gotten off to a slow start in 2025/26, averaging 20.3 points per game but shooting just 40.6% from the field, including 15.6% from three-point range. The 26-year-old point guard’s assists (6.7), rebounds (3.3) and minutes (28.5) per game are all at career-low levels through six contests.

The Grizzlies are currently 3-3. They have been hit hard by injuries again this fall, with multiple key players sidelined to open the season.

Heat Notes: Powell, Rozier, Herro, Jakucionis, Morant, LaRoche

November 2nd, 2025 at 8:22am CST by Rory Maher

Heat guard Norman Powell is in the final year of his contract, which will pay him $20.48MM in 2025/26. He will remain extension-eligible through June 30, 2026, and if a deal is not reached he will become an unrestricted free agent.

According to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, Powell recently made it clear he hopes to sign a long-term extension with the Heat.

“I love it here. I love everything about the Heat,” Powell emphasized. “I loved them before. They were on my list before I signed my extension in Portland. I wanted to come here and play for the Heat. So I’m excited. I like the culture. I like what they have going on here. I like the mentality and the approach. I feel like they take guys to the next level. They push them past their own expectations, they have high standards. And I always like being around people that have high aspirations and high goals for themselves. It fits who I am, so I want to be here. Hopefully they feel the same way.”

As Chiang writes, Powell was off to a hot start to the season, averaging 24.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals on .477/.500/.913 shooting in three games (31.0 minutes per contest) before suffering a right groin strain that has caused him to miss the past two. The 32-year-old is questionable for Sunday’s contest at the Lakers.

“Hopefully [the Heat] like everything that’s happened so far and what I bring to the table outside of just on the court,” said Powell, who recently described himself as “super low-maintenance.” “But just who I am every single day, stepping into the arena, integrating myself with the team and the staff and the members around. Hopefully everybody appreciates my presence and we’ll be able to get something done. But, yeah, I want to be here.”

Here’s more on the Heat:

Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel lists the short-term steps he believes commissioner Adam Silver should take to give the Heat more cap and roster flexibility in the wake of Terry Rozier‘s arrest — the veteran guard is facing two federal charges as part of an illegal gambling probe. While the information isn’t really relevant now, a source tells Winderman that the Heat considered waiving Rozier before the season began (a small portion of his contract was non-guaranteed at the time) and also had buyout discussions with the 31-year-old.
All-Star Tyler Herro (left ankle surgery) and rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis (right groin strain) are traveling with the team on its current four-game road trip, which ends Wednesday in Denver, per Chiang of The Miami Herald. “It’s good for them,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said about Herro and Jakucionis joining the team on the road. “For us, sure, it’s always good to have them around. But I think it just speeds up the whole process when they’re around the guys, around the game, around the whole travel routine, and participating in some of the things that they can do, which they did this morning.” Both players are out on Sunday, though Jakucionis is closer to making his season debut — the 2025 first-round pick is considered day-to-day.
Although the Heat have expressed “more than passing” interest in Ja Morant in the past, Winderman doesn’t expect the team to explore the possibility of buying low on the Grizzlies guard in the wake of his latest off-court incident, which resulted in a one-game suspension for detrimental conduct following a disagreement with the coaching staff.
Speaking of the Grizzlies, former Memphis assistant coach Noah LaRoche is now a consultant with the Heat, who have implemented the movement-heavy offense LaRoche was in charge of last season with Memphis, sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN. It’s only been five games, but the Heat currently rank seventh in the league in offensive efficiency after finishing 21st, 21st and 25th in the league in that category over the past three years, Windhorst notes. “You know Spo is running the polar opposite of the system that [Heat president] Pat Riley used to run, where he called every play and each play design was exact,” a league executive said. “And it makes me further appreciate and respect that the organization is about the right s–t. They’re about exploring and teaching in Miami.”

Southwest Notes: Mavericks, Gafford, Irving, Rockets, Morant

November 1st, 2025 at 9:45pm CST by Arthur Hill

Tonight’s game in Mexico City is an important part of the NBA’s international outreach and a chance for the Mavericks to build their fan base in the neighboring nation, writes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). The Mavs’ contest against Detroit marks their eighth appearance in Mexico and the NBA’s 33rd overall since 1992.

“For fans outside of the U.S., the opportunity for them to enjoy a live experience of an NBA game is very limited,” said Raul Zarraga, vice president and managing director of NBA Mexico. “This is part of our commitment to provide this live experience to fans all around the world.”

Dwight Powell, the only player left on the roster from the Mavericks’ last trip to Mexico during the 2019/20 season, recalls the crowd being “extremely energetic.” Zarraga said Mexican fans as a group don’t have a strong rooting interest in any franchise, but they tend to like the three Texas teams as well as those with successful histories such as the Bulls, Lakers and Heat.

One of tonight’s top attractions will be No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, who’s looking forward to playing in front of an international crowd.

“I’ve been to Cancun one time for a vacation, but other than that, I’ve never been to Mexico,” Flagg said. “I’m excited. I’ve heard it’s really beautiful. Detroit’s a really good team, so it should be a competitive, high-level game.”

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

Daniel Gafford is in the Mavericks‘ starting lineup as he makes his season debut, but coach Jason Kidd said he’ll be restricted to about 15-18 minutes, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (Twitter link). D’Angelo Russell is also active after being listed as questionable with a left knee contusion.
Asked about Kyrie Irving at tonight’s pregame press conference, Kidd hinted that his star guard could be back in action before the end of the year, Curtis tweets. “We just can’t wait to get Kai back, at some point,” Kidd said. “Hopefully it’s in the year of ’25, not ’26. We’ll see what happens, but I think those two (Irving/Flagg) will be a perfect match in the backcourt.”
Rockets coach Ime Udoka is still working out his rotation and is trying to create more playing time for backup center Clint Capela, according to Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Udoka added that there’s still no timetable for Dorian Finney-Smith, who is recovering from offseason ankle surgery, but he and Jae’Sean Tate will get a chance to earn rotation roles when they’re fully healthy. Tate is currently restricted to 15 minutes per game.
The Grizzlies have already reached a turning point in their season after today’s one-game suspension of Ja Morant, contends Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Cole states that Morant seemed “disengaged” during Friday’s loss to the Lakers, and he was upset after a post-game interaction with coach Tuomas Iisalo, who is known for being direct with players. Cole adds that the season could unravel quickly if Morant, Iisalo and Jaren Jackson Jr. don’t work together as leaders.

Ja Morant Receives One-Game Suspension From Grizzlies

November 1st, 2025 at 3:17pm CST by Rory Maher

The Grizzlies have suspended point guard Ja Morant for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link).

According to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), head coach Tuomas Iisalo challenged Morant’s “leadership and effort” following Friday’s loss to the Lakers. Morant responded to Iisalo in a “tone deemed inappropriate,” sources tell Charania.

Morant will lose 1/145th of his $39,446,090 salary for 2025/26 as a result of the suspension, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter). That works out to $272,042.

In a brief session with the media after Friday’s game (video link), Morant repeatedly said to “go ask the coaching staff” when asked about his listless performance — the 26-year-old finished with season lows of eight points and one rebound in 31 minutes. He shot just 3-of-14 from the floor and attempted a season-low two free throws.

Morant’s one-game suspension will be served on Sunday in Toronto.

According to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (subscriber link), Morant was “visibly disengaged” during the second half of Friday’s contest, notably not attempting any shots in the final five minutes of the game after making a game-winning floater on Wednesday in Phoenix.

As Cole writes, while Iisalo has been complimented by players for his direct approach, he has also faced questions about some of his substitution patterns.

When asked what the team could have done to get a different result on Friday, Morant replied, “According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly. That’s basically what the message was after.”

Ja Morant Expresses Frustration With Coaching Staff After Poor Outing

November 1st, 2025 at 8:25am CST by Dana Gauruder

Toumas Iisalo is in the early stages of his first full season as the Grizzlies head coach, but his star player is already expressing frustration with him.

After Ja Morant struggled mightily during the team’s loss to the Lakers on Friday, Morant repeatedly told the media, “Go ask the coaching staff,” and “Go ask him” when quizzed on his performance.

Asked if he had any other observations regarding the game, Morant offered the following reply, per Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link).

“According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly. That’s basically what the message was after.”

Morant scored eight points on 3-of-14 shooting with seven assists while playing just under 31 minutes on Friday. Although he has appeared in all six of Memphis’ games this season, he has not played more than 31:33 in any game yet this season, Josh Robbins of The Athletic notes. He was also torched by Luka Doncic on the defensive end as the Lakers star poured in 44 points.

Morant wrapped up his post-game comments by denying there was anything wrong with him physically. The media didn’t get a chance to talk to the coach regarding Morant’s comments.

Former All-Star Blake Griffin, now a commentator on Amazon Prime Video, criticized Morant after the game.

“For a guy that’s making $40 million and needs to be the leader of the team, I just don’t love it. I don’t know if he was not feeling well, if he’s hurt. But that, to me, is a very bad sign and is something that … has to change,” Griffin said, per Robbins.

Morant is shooting 40.6% overall and just 15.6% on 3s. He’s in the third year of a five-year, $197.2MM contract, while Memphis is off to a 3-3 start this season.

Morant, of course, is no stranger to controversy. He was suspended twice by the league in 2023 for conduct detrimental to the league after social media posts in which he was seen brandishing a firearm.

Morant’s comments on Friday suggest some sort of disconnect with the current staff. Whether that could lead to a trade request or the front office making him available in trade talks remains to be seen.

Grizzlies Notes: Coward, Small, Morant, Bassey

October 27th, 2025 at 11:16pm CST by Rory Maher

After a slow start during the preseason, rookie Cedric Coward has quickly shown why the Grizzlies were so high on him entering the 2025 draft. Memphis traded a future first-round pick and two second-rounders in order to move up five spots from No. 16 to draft Coward at No. 11 overall.

The 22-year-old wing, who earned praise from his coaches and teammates during training camp, averaged an extremely efficient 15.0 points per game over his first two contests. And in Saturday’s victory over Indiana, Coward erupted for 27 points (on 9-of-13 shooting), six rebounds and four assists in just 24 minutes.

“It’s just been waiting to happen,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (subscription required). “He’s making those shots in practice and knocking them down at a high clip. Great free throw shooter, like, all the signs are there.”

As Sharon Brown of The Memphis Flyer writes, Coward doesn’t act or play like a rookie, with an even-keeled demeanor, “quiet confidence,” and excellent work ethic — traits that should serve him well over a long season.

“It’s super important,” Coward said of his poised demeanor. “We’ve got 82 of these things, plus playoffs … You have to take the highs and the lows the same. You can’t just do it one time and be satisfied.”

We have more from Memphis:

In addition to Coward, backcourt injuries have also created an opportunity for rookie guard Javon Small, writes Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com. “He’s worked extremely hard to learn a ton of things in a short amount of time,” Iisalo said of Small, who is on a two-way contract. “He’s doing a great job. He listens. He just absorbs. He has a confidence that really works for us, and he’s become big-time for us in a situation that we really needed him.”
Star point guard Ja Morant used to be mentioned as one of the future faces of the league until off-court incidents and injuries changed the trajectory of his career, but he tells Nick Friedell of The Athletic he was never interested in filling the role. “There’s a lot that comes with that,” Morant said. “I play basketball for the love of the game, not to be the face of the NBA. Obviously, I hear that a lot. I don’t put no pressure on it. I just go out and just play my game. Me pretty much just going out there and doing that had me in those conversations. Obviously, people have their own opinions, but I really don’t care for it too much.”
The Grizzlies signed center Charles Bassey to a 10-day hardship contract on Monday. Iisalo praised the Nigerian big man’s rebounding prowess and said he’ll get a chance to play for Memphis at some point, as Cole relays (via Twitter). “He will get his opportunity,” Iisalo said of Bassey. “Whether that comes today or in the future games, that remains to be seen.”

Ja Morant Expected To Play In Grizzlies’ Season Opener

October 20th, 2025 at 6:13pm CST by Rory Maher

Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant is expected to play in Wednesday’s regular season opener vs. New Orleans after missing the entire preseason with a sprained left ankle, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (subscription required).

“Ja is progressing really well,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said after Monday’s practice. “He’s expected to make a return on opening night.”

As Cole notes, Morant sustained the injury during a practice on October 5. He was considered week-to-week at the time, and it sounds like he’ll be ready to go about two-and-a-half weeks later.

Morant, a two-time All-Star, only played nine games in 2023/24 — he was suspended for the first 25 games of the campaign, then underwent season-ending surgery in January 2024 to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The 26-year-old was plagued by health issues last season as well, appearing in 50 games due to a variety of injuries, including repeated problems with the same shoulder.

Morant’s return appearing imminent is certainly good news for Memphis, which will be shorthanded in the backcourt before the season even begins — Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe surgery) is out 12-plus weeks, while Ty Jerome (right calf strain) will miss at least four.

Iisalo also provided a minor injury update on fourth-year wing Vince Williams Jr., Cole adds. Williams, who was limited to just 27 games last season due to injuries and missed some time during the preseason, is battling “nagging heel soreness,” an issue the team continues to monitor.

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