DALLAS — Tensions Rise Between Klay Thompson and Ja Morant
Klay Thompson expressed his exhaustion with Ja Morant’s incessant chatter following a tense encounter between the two players after the Memphis Grizzlies’ victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. Morant, sidelined with a calf strain for the third consecutive game, confronted Thompson moments after the Grizzlies secured a 102-96 win. The atmosphere escalated, necessitating intervention from security and coaching staff to keep the situation from spiraling further, highlighting an ongoing rivalry that dates back to the 2022 playoffs, where Thompson played a critical role in the Golden State Warriors’ elimination of the Grizzlies on their path to a championship.
Thompson’s Frustration and Morant’s Comments
In the aftermath of the game, Thompson quipped about Morant’s frequent remarks, suggesting that much of it lacks substance.
“He’s a funny guy,” Thompson remarked. “He has a lot to say all the time, especially for a guy who rarely takes accountability.”
The Warriors star’s frustration was amplified by multiple altercations during the game, including one with Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama, who was penalized for tripping Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, an act that was later upgraded to a flagrant foul upon review. Additionally, both Thompson and Grizzlies wing Vince Williams Jr. received technical fouls after exchanged barbs.
In a post-game jab, Morant sought to undermine Thompson’s contributions, asserting to teammate Cam Spencer during a broadcast interview that he was the superior shooter that night, despite Thompson’s season-high performance of 22 points.
“Tell him who the best shooter in the house was,” Morant stated, dismissing Thompson with the quip, “It wasn’t bruh from Golden State.”
Thompson’s Response and Morant’s Struggles
Thompson replied to Morant’s comments, describing them as devoid of substantive thought and alluding to Morant’s ongoing struggles involving suspensions and injuries that have clouded his career since earning All-Star accolades in 2022 and 2023.
“He’s been running his mouth for a long time,” Thompson said. “It’s funny to run your mouth when you’re on the bench. It’s kind of the story of his career so far… We need our best players to be out there, and when you’re a star, it comes with a great responsibility.”
Morant, 26, has faced multiple suspensions in recent seasons, including bans of eight and 25 games during the past two seasons for incidents involving firearms displayed on social media, alongside an earlier one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team after a confrontation with his coach. This season has been particularly rough for Morant, averaging only 17.9 points per game with shooting percentages of 35.9% overall and a dismal 16.7%% from beyond the arc.
Reflections on Sportsmanship
Lastly, Thompson reflected on Aldama’s trip of Flagg, drawing parallels to past incidents he considers unsportsmanlike during the Warriors-Grizzlies playoff series, notably a flagrant foul by Dillon Brooks that resulted in Gary Payton II’s serious injury. At 35, Thompson has embraced a supporting role with the Mavericks amidst his challenges this season, noting his respect for the grit shown by earlier Grizzlies teams but dismissing the current iteration.
“They just talk a lot,” he observed. “And never really backed it up either, so I don’t really respect that.”
