Klay Thompson attacks Ja Morant after post-match confrontation: ‘It’s fun to talk nonsense when you’re on the bench’
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant had a lot to say after his team beat the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. After the game – a 102-96 Grizzlies victory – Morant, who missed due to a calf injury, faced off against Mavericks forward Klay Thompson on the court.
The two exchanged words, with teammates and coaches intervening to prevent things from getting physical. Morant continued this way even after Thompson left the field. Morant interrupted a postgame interview with Cam Spencer, saying, “Tell him who was the best shooter in the house, he wasn’t Golden State’s brother.”
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Spencer dropped 17 points in the win and went 3-of-5 from three-point range. Thompson led the Mavericks with 22 points, going 6-of-12 from beyond the arc.
After the game, Thompson was asked about the on-field confrontation with Morant. The former Warriors star doesn’t mince words.
Thompson, 35, kicked off his comments by saying, “[Morant is] a funny guy. He always has a lot to say, especially for a guy who rarely takes responsibility,” according to ESPN.
Thompson then criticized Morant for talking nice from the bench and not living up to his immense potential.
“He really just let his mouth do the talking, and he’s been doing it for a long time,” Thompson said. “It’s fun to talk nonsense when you’re on the bench. It’s kind of the story of his career so far, leaving us wanting more.
“We all want to see him out there and do his best, but he’s let a lot of other things get in his way. We need that in the NBA. We need our best players out there, and when you’re a star, it comes with a lot of responsibility. I hate to see all that go to waste.”
Morant, 26, has shown superstar potential on the court, but several off-court incidents have caused the guard to miss time. Morant was suspended for eight games in 2023 after apparently displaying a gun during an Instagram Live video while at a club. That video surfaced shortly after Morant was accused of assaulting and threatening a teenager with a gun during a previous offseason.
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That same year, Morant was suspended 25 games to begin the 2023-24 NBA season after displaying yet another gun in a social media video. Morant returned from that suspension, but was immediately injured, playing only nine games that season.
Earlier this year, Morant was suspended by the Grizzlies for one game after arguing with coach Tuomas Iisalo following a loss.
Morant returned after that suspension, but played in only one of the team’s final five games due to injury.
Thompson didn’t explicitly point out these issues, but he undoubtedly referenced them when he called out Morant after Saturday’s game.
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It’s unclear why there is bad blood between Morant and Thompson, but the feud could date back to the 2022 NBA playoffs, when Thompson and the Golden State Warriors eliminated Morant and the Grizzlies. Thompson averaged 18.5 points in that series, including 30 points in the Warriors’ Game 6 win.
After Saturday’s loss, the Mavericks fell to 5-13 on the season. The Grizzlies aren’t far behind in the standings and are sitting at 6-11 after the win.