Oh No He Didn't: Blake Griffin: I don’t love what I saw from Ja Morant tonight. (...) I don’t know if he’s not feeling well, if he’s hurt, but that to me is a very bad sign and something that has to change. The Grizzlies will only go as far as Ja Morant takes them. When he’s engaged, we’ve seen it; he’s unbelievable. He’s an all-world talent. But that type of effort right there, that’s the thing that we will call out. You (Udonis Haslem) were an effort guy, the Miami Heat is an effort organization, I know you would have something to say if you were on that team and you saw something like that happen.

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Kendricks Perkins say he doesn’t fu*k with Ja Morant ? “You fu*k up, not only do that make you look bad, that made me look bad. They recognized you because of me speaking highly of you. It ain’t no coincidence you went from having 3 games on ESPN to 52.” x.com | Oct. 28, 2025

Ja Morant: you da reason for my notoriety perk? come on dawg . ? you showing em why ion fw yo kind . x.com | Oct. 27, 2025

Fullcourtpass: Kendricks Perkins say he doesn’t fu*k with Ja Morant ? “You fu*k up, not only do that make you look bad, that made me look bad. They recognized you because of me speaking highly of you. It ain’t no coincidence you went from having 3 games on ESPN to 52.” (Via @OutTheMudTL ) x.com | Oct. 27, 2025

“There’s a lot that comes with that,” Morant said. “I play basketball for the love of the game, not to be the face of the NBA. Obviously, I hear that a lot. I don’t put no pressure on it. I just go out and just play my game. Me pretty much just going out there and doing that had me in those conversations. Obviously, people have their own opinions, but I really don’t care for it too much.” New York Times | Oct. 27, 2025

As the rest of the NBA wonders which player may eventually take over the large mantle that LeBron James and Stephen Curry have carried for years as faces of the league, one man is still mentioned as a possible torchbearer for the game in the future, with no desire for the role: Ja Morant. “I never did for real,” Morant told The Athletic in advance of Monday’s game against the Golden State Warriors. “Honestly.” New York Times | Oct. 27, 2025

Tony East: Noticed Ben Sheppard was missing part of a tooth while we were talking to him postgame. Asked him if it was from the defensive foul on Ja Morant and he said yeah before showing me a smile: Twitter @TonyREast | Oct. 26, 2025

Damichael Cole: Ja Morant and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are active x.com | Oct. 24, 2025

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Blake Griffin calls out Ja Morant for lack of effort vs. Lakers

Reporting by Staff / Hoops Hype

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