Draymond Green’s Concerns About Ja Morant
In a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green discussed his concerns regarding Memphis Grizzlies player Ja Morant‘s demeanor prior to Morant’s suspension. Green recalled a moment after a game between the Warriors and Grizzlies on October 27, which saw Golden State triumph 131–118.
Observations from the Game
He noted that he and teammate Steph Curry both felt that Morant seemed disengaged from the game.
“As we boarded the plane, I mentioned to Steph that Ja seemed off, like something had happened to take him out of his usual element. He was passing the ball to Cam Spencer and then just positioned himself in the corner. Steph remarked, ‘Looks like a quiet protest,’ and I couldn’t disagree,”
Green shared.
Morant’s Suspension
Following the Grizzlies’ defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, Morant faced inquiries about his performance and awkwardly redirected questions to the coaching staff concerning his restricted playing time. The very next day, he received a one-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Green interpreted this series of events as confirmation of his earlier instincts about the situation in Memphis.
“I found Morant’s remarks during that press conference quite telling. They reaffirmed what I had observed during the game—it became clear something was off in Memphis,”
Green remarked.
Green’s Perspective on Suspensions
Green, who has faced his share of suspensions throughout his career, expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of sidelining a key player.
“Personally, I’m not in favor of taking away your primary player’s time on the floor. From my experience, suspensions don’t accomplish much other than to frustrate your team. When you suspend your key guy, it can result in a fracture that might not heal,”
he stated. With a reputation for his competitive fire and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Green cautioned about the potential long-term repercussions of such decisions.
The future will tell if the Grizzlies can navigate past this challenge and maintain Morant’s involvement in the team’s journey.
