Ja Morant’s frustration with officiating boiled over on Thursday night, ultimately leading to his ejection from the game. The Memphis Grizzlies star was visibly displeased with a series of calls during his team’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings, and the mounting tension culminated in his removal from the game.
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter, with Morant defending Kings star DeMar DeRozan in the mid-post. During the play, Morant was called for a shooting foul that many observers deemed questionable.
The contact appeared minimal and was seemingly initiated by DeRozan himself, yet the foul was called on Morant, much to his disbelief.
Upon hearing the whistle, Morant immediately reacted with animated gestures, clearly expressing his displeasure. His frustration escalated as he pointed and yelled at the referee who made the call, No. 30, John Butler.
This outburst earned Morant a technical foul, which was his second of the quarter—the first having been issued earlier for arguing a non-call on a shot he missed. As per NBA rules, two technical fouls in a game result in an automatic ejection, and Morant was subsequently tossed from the contest.
Another camera angle seemed to support Morant’s stance, showing that he was in a clear legal guarding position at the time of the foul. Despite the footage suggesting that Morant’s defense was well within the rules, the controversial call stood, leading to the star’s early exit from the game.
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It was an overall frustrating night for Morant, who has been struggling to find his rhythm early in the season. The two-time All-Star managed just eight points on a rough 2-for-13 shooting performance before being ejected.
His scoring struggles have been evident, as Morant has been averaging 22.0 points per game—his lowest output since his sophomore season. Adding to his woes, he recently missed a couple of weeks due to a hip injury, which has affected his return to form.
Despite Morant’s ejection and his shooting difficulties, the Memphis Grizzlies managed to pull off a win, defeating the Sacramento Kings 115-110.
The team benefitted from a balanced offensive effort, with seven other Grizzlies scoring in double figures. Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart led the way with 18 points each, ensuring Memphis held on for the victory even without their star point guard.
Morant’s passion and competitiveness are integral to his game, but Thursday night’s events were a reminder of how quickly emotions can boil over in the heat of competition.
While his reaction led to his ejection, Morant may have had a legitimate case regarding the questionable foul call that set everything in motion.
As he continues to regain his form, both Morant and the Grizzlies will look to put this incident behind them and focus on building momentum for the rest of the season.
