The Memphis Grizzlies are off to a rocky start this NBA season with a 1-6 record, and the absence of Ja Morant due to suspension has been keenly felt. The team faced a disastrous beginning to a recent game against the Blazers, worsened by a critical officiating error. In an attempt to salvage their season, the Grizzlies are pinning their hopes on the in-season tournament, which began recently and concludes on November 24, just after Thanksgiving.
ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith expressed his astonishment at Morant's absence, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation. In a video posted on his X account, Smith highlighted the paradox of a previously winless Memphis Grizzlies team striving without their star player. Morant received a 25-game suspension for displaying a weapon on an Instagram live feed earlier in the spring. Smith, the host of 'First Take,' voiced his concerns that the Grizzlies might struggle to reach their full potential without Morant on the court. Although shooting guard Desmond Bane and center Jaren Jackson, Jr. have stepped up in Morant's absence, their efforts haven't been enough to secure a winning record for the team.
