Grizzlies' Ja Morant says 'I don't like the Lakers' and discusses viral fight with LeBron James

Star guard Ja Morant helped the Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Los Angeles Lakers by scoring 20 points in a 131-114 win on Wednesday. Morant admitted he had a little extra incentive to beat the Lakers.

“I don’t like them,” Morant said after Wednesday’s game. “They knocked me out of the playoffs. And then last year we had a game and they came here and played it at our house while I was in street clothes. That wasn’t me tonight.”

Morant played a total of 24 minutes on Wednesday and made seven of 17 shots from the field. However, Morant left the game in the third quarter due to a right hamstring injury.

Wednesday's game was the first meeting between the two teams since the end of the 2023-24 regular season. In that contest, Lakers star LeBron James scored 37 points and helped beat the Grizzlies 123-120. Morant suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in January 2024 and was forced to miss the game.

In the 2022-23 season, the Lakers eliminated the Grizzlies in the opening round of the postseason, so the motivation was definitely there for Morant to make a statement.

In fact, Morant and James were neck-and-neck throughout Wednesday's game. Every player used the “too small” gesture after shooting baskets, and Morant was even hit with a technical foul at one point.

“I think I did the 'too small' thing to someone who was too small,” Morant added. “[James] came back and did it respectfully. …He did it, and I don't shy away from anyone. I don't care who you are.

“My job was just to come back. I got my bucket and called the shots. My teammates benefited from it and you see what happens. Leader in our league. You're eliminating the leader you're otherwise afraid of.” ?”

Morant averaged 20.6 points to start the season and the Grizzlies are off to a 5-4 start.