Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant recently admitted that off-the-court issues had impacted the team’s performance during the 2023 NBA playoffs (CBS Sports). After having high hopes and expectations for a championship run, the Grizzlies were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers (Sports Illustrated).
Morant, an All-Star guard for the Grizzlies, took responsibility for the team’s early exit from the playoffs, stating that his off-the-court issues had affected the entire organization (Bleacher Report). The Grizzlies’ season came to a disappointing end after a blowout loss to the Lakers (Fox News), with some experts questioning whether the team had the right core around Morant to win it all (Sporting News).
In an attempt to explain the Grizzlies’ struggles, The Athletic pointed to a crisis of confidence within the team, which relied heavily on Morant and Dillon Brooks as their superstar and emotional leader. The Grizzlies’ chances in the series and possibly beyond were dependent on these two players accepting their personas (The Athletic). Matt Barnes, while discussing Morant’s hand injury, warned the player to be careful, noting that “the ground is undefeated” (Basketball Network).
In December, Morant had made a comment about the Grizzlies being “fine in the West,” which had sparked some backlash (The SportsRush). Since then, the team has had bumpy season, and off-the-court issues have seemingly had a significant impact on their playoff journey. Fans and experts alike will be keeping a close eye on the Grizzlies during their offseason to see if they can bounce back and make another run at the championship with Ja Morant at the helm.
