<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-ja-morant-creates-buzz-move-before-nba-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies’ Ja Morant creates buzz with move before NBA free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Grizzlies-star-Ja-Morant-warms-up.jpg"><figcaption>Scott Wachter-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Grizzlies’ Ja Morant creates buzz with move before NBA free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-28T19:18:21-07:00">June 28th, 7:18pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-28T19:18:35-07:00">June 28th, 7:18pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The NBA and Memphis Grizzlies fans desperately want Ja Morant to completely remove himself from his gun-related incidents in 2023 and move forward incident-free. Although the star point guard has not received any suspensions since or been seen brandishing a firearm, he still gave the league offices a headache with his finger-gun celebrations in April. The 25-year-old was assessed <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-ja-morant-fined-75000-gun-gestures-vs-heat">a $75,000 fine</a>, and fans consequently gave him a unique nickname, one that he seems to be embracing as of Saturday.</p><p>Morant <a href="https://x.com/GrizzlyMuse/status/1939075064802230283" rel="noopener">changed the profile photo</a> on his Instagram and X/Twitter accounts to an image of Keanu Reeves’ beloved “John Wick” character, via GrizzMuse, an apparent reference to the “Ja Wick” moniker that people have referred to him as on social media.</p><p>For those unfamiliar with the film franchise that reinvigorated Reeves’ acting career, it centers around a legendary and retired hit man who comes back into focus after seeking revenge on a group of mobsters. Consequently, he ends up on the radar of almost every serious assassin and is forced to constantly fight to stay alive. It is John Wick versus the world, so to speak. There are multiple ways to interpret Morant’s change as it pertains to this complex protagonist.</p><p>Wick is obviously extremely adept at using a firearm. If the 2022 All-NBA Second-Team selection is alluding to that aspect specifically, that might not go over well given his history. Or, maybe this “Ja Wick” transformation is sending another message: No. 12 is entering the offseason with a vengeance following all the criticism.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ja Morant’s new profile picture: </p><p>😂🥷 <a href="https://t.co/lTxjumvQ7j">pic.twitter.com/lTxjumvQ7j</a></p><p>— GrizzMuse (@GrizzlyMuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrizzlyMuse/status/1939075064802230283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b> Ja Morant, Grizzlies press on</b></h2><p>The Grizzlies are in the midst of a crucial summer, as they reshape their roster ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Memphis appears fully committed to Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. as the co-cornerstones of this squad, at least at this time, after its decision to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-gm-admits-desmond-bane-trade-great-magic">trade Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic</a> in mid-June. The front office further modified its vision by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-blazers-trade-grades-for-2025-nba-draft-deal">moving up to select promising wing Cedric Coward</a> with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. This feels like a new era in Grind City.</p><p>But as long as he is healthy, which is certainly no guarantee, Ja Morant remains the centerpiece of this team. Sure, he is a polarizing figure, and yes, he is coming off an injury-ravaged campaign in which his production and overall efficiency dipped, but this electric athlete is still capable of great things on a basketball court. Despite the skepticism surrounding him, Morant seems determined to remind everyone of his scintillating skills.</p><p>Perhaps this “Ja Wick” persona is not meant to stoke flames or give the NBA the finger, but rather to serve as personal motivation in the face of all the mockery. If genuinely positive results follow, fans will extol him once again. Even so, the Grizzlies would probably appreciate it if their their franchise pillar laid low for a bit.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies’ Ja Morant creates buzz with move before NBA free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-ja-morant-family-announce-launch-of-new-company');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, family announce launch of new company');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Tee-Morant-watches-his-son-Memphis-Grizzlies-guard-Ja-Morant.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, family announce launch of new company</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-27T14:52:41-07:00">June 27th, 2:52pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-27T14:56:51-07:00">June 27th, 2:56pm</time><address><a>Tomer Azarly</a>Tomer Azarly is in his ninth season as the LA Clippers beat writer and NBA reporter for ClutchPoints. From the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-James Harden era, he brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers as well as coast-to-coast coverage of the NBA.In his free time, Tomer likes to play basketball, video games, and draw.You can follow his Twitter and Instagram for all Clippers content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Ja Morant is in the midst of an <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-gm-admits-desmond-bane-trade-great-magic">important basketball offseason</a>, especially with the Memphis Grizzlies <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-blazers-trade-grades-for-2025-nba-draft-deal">making changes around the duo</a> of him and Jaren Jackson Jr. The two-time NBA All-Star, however, is also focusing on his off-the-court ventures as well.</p><p>Earlier this week, Morant and his family announced the launch of Catch12.</p><h2><b>Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, family launches Catch12 media company</b></h2><p><a href="https://world.einnews.com/pr_news/823959654/nba-superstar-ja-morant-and-the-morant-family-launch-catch12-a-bold-media-company-redefining-storytelling-and-culture">Ja Morant and his circle officially launched</a> a media company this week, Catch12, with an eye on creating original content, highlighting community impact, and providing cultural storytelling to spotlight real stories and build generational influence.</p><p>Morant has been in the spotlight quite a bit in recent years, with many of those experiences being negative. The goal for Ja Morant’s new media company is to reclaim the narrative and amplify authentic voices from the culture, starting with the Memphis Grizzlies guard’s own voice.</p><p>Led by Chairman of the Board Ja Morant, as well as CEO Phil Morant, Catch12 will operate at the intersection of sports, storytelling, and social impact. The company serves as the central hub for all media, branding, and ventures connected to the Morant family, including his Nike EYBL program “Twelve Time,” the “Tee’d Up Podcast” featuring his father Tee Morant, and his My Brothers No Others Foundation, also known as the MBNO Foundation.</p><p>“This is more than a media company,” CEO Phil Morant said in the release. “It’s a platform to tell real stories—from where we come from, how we got here, and what we’re building for the next generation.”</p><p>Per the official Catch12 release:</p><blockquote>Catch12’s official website, www.catch12.com, will host an evolving portfolio of original content, including mini-documentaries, exclusive interviews, and branded series that spotlight rising talent, celebrate icons, and speak directly to underserved communities. The company is already in production on multiple series, starting with the Tee’d Up Podcast, a docu-series chronicling the Morant’s inner circle, and a full-length documentary following the Morant’s youth basketball program, Twelve Time.As the company grows, Catch12 is also exploring additional verticals that align with its core mission—expanding its reach across media, investment, and cultural innovation. These initiatives remain in development but reflect the broader ambition of Catch12 to build lasting influence and generational value.</blockquote><p>The new Catch12 Media Company will also feature leadership from Ja Morant’s father, Tee Morant, his best friend and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Davonte Pack, as well as other long-time members of Team Morant.</p><p>“We’re not waiting for someone to tell our story,” said Berry Winn, Chief Operating Officer of Catch 12. “We’re building the platform ourselves—with purpose, pride, and power.”</p><p>A two-time NBA All-Star, Ja Morant just finished his sixth season in the NBA, all with the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant has won Rookie of the Year in 2019-20, Most Improved Player of the Year for 2021-22, and made an All-NBA team in the 2021-22 season.</p><p>In 50 games this past season, Morant averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 31 percent from three.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, family announce launch of new company

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-ja-morant-brutal-zach-randolph-message');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies’ Ja Morant receives brutally honest message from ex-Memphis star');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ja-Morant.avif"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Grizzlies’ Ja Morant receives brutally honest message from ex-Memphis star</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-19T16:11:26-07:00">June 19th, 4:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-20T14:41:41-07:00">June 20th, 2:41pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Memphis Grizzlies are entering one of the most important offseasons in recent memory, and once again, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-stephen-a-smith-clarifies-memphis-criticism-ja-morant-beef">the focus is firmly on Ja Morant</a>.</p><p>Coming off a tumultuous year filled with off-court distractions and a first-round playoff sweep, Morant’s future is under a microscope. Amid the noise, former Grizz icon Zach Randolph has stepped forward with a message rooted in experience, toughness, and leadership.</p><p>Appearing on The Big Pod with Shaquille O’Neal, Randolph, one of the most beloved figures in Memphis basketball history, offered heartfelt advice to Morant as he faces a defining stretch in his young NBA career.</p><p>“We need him in Memphis… I just tell him, ‘You going to be alright; just keep your head up high,’ because I’ve been through sh*t… It’s about how you bounce back.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Zach Randolph on the advice he gives to Ja Morant 🗣️</p><p>“We need him in Memphis… I just tell him, 'You going to be alright, just keep your head up high,' because I’ve been through sh*t… It’s about how you bounce back.”</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/bigpodwithshaq?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bigpodwithshaq</a>)<a href="https://t.co/9XFJkGkHD3">pic.twitter.com/9XFJkGkHD3</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1935804597186216357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Randolph’s words don’t just come from a <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1935804597186216357" rel="noopener">place of concern</a>. They reflect the mindset that helped shape the team’s “Grit and Grind” era. As a player who once carried the franchise through its toughest and most successful years, Randolph knows what it takes to lead a team through adversity.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/3-memphis-grizzlies-most-to-blame-for-thunder-sweep-to-complete-season-collapse">The Grizzlies’ 2025 playoff run ended abruptly</a> in a sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder, a series that included a stunning 51-point loss in Game 1. The defeat reignited public demand for accountability and leadership. For all of Morant’s incredible talent, including 32 career games with 35 or more points, the spotlight has shifted beyond raw numbers.</p><p>As the Murray State product enters his seventh NBA season, the expectations have never been higher. He remains the face of the franchise, a dynamic scorer with MVP-level potential. But with that spotlight comes the responsibility to lead — not just by performance but by example.</p><p>Randolph’s mentorship offers a bridge between eras in Memphis, connecting the gritty foundation of the past with the explosive potential of the present. His influence reminds everyone that being the face of a franchise requires more than highlight plays.</p><p>Whether Morant internalizes that message could shape the direction of both his career and the Grizzlies’ future. The opportunity is still there. The challenge now is whether he’s ready to answer the call — not with flair but with growth.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies’ Ja Morant receives brutally honest message from ex-Memphis star

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/stephen-a-smiths-ja-morant-grizzlies-take-debunked-by-memphis-mayor');   ga('set', 'title', 'Stephen A. Smith’s Ja Morant, Grizzlies take debunked by Memphis mayor');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ja-Morant-in-action.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>Stephen A. Smith’s Ja Morant, Grizzlies take debunked by Memphis mayor</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-18T13:08:40-07:00">June 18th, 1:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-18T15:01:35-07:00">June 18th, 3:01pm</time><address><a>Randall Barnes</a>Randall Barnes is a Fall 2019 Graduate of Fort Valley State University, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in Fort Valley, Georgia, where he majored in Media Studies. He is the Founder of HBCU Pulse, a multimedia outlet with the mission to tell the authentic stories of HBCU Life via traditional, digital and social media outlets to amplify our voice. He is also the host of HBCU Pulse Radio, which can be heard on SiriusXM Channel 142 HBCU Fridays at 5 p.m. EST and wherever you get your podcasts.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">HBCU</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Memphis Mayor Paul Young released a statement on Tuesday night weighing in on Stephen A. Smith’s comments about the city of Memphis amid speculation about a possible Ja Morant trade. In a segment on if the Grizzlies should move on from Moran<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-rumors-stephen-a-smith-claims-unsafe-environment-memphis-stars-away">t, Smith spoke about how the alleged crime</a> in the city makes it <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1934996960164917649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1934996960164917649%7Ctwgr%5E6783250fb6a275280bbfac68a8abe3f8e624d253%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fmemphis-grizzlies%2Fgrizzlies-rumors-stephen-a-smith-claims-unsafe-environment-memphis-stars-away" rel="noopener">not an attractive destination</a> for the NBA’s best players.</p><p>“The people in Memphis, it’s a great sports town, great fans, great people,” Smith said on Tuesday afternoon. “But there’s an element there where cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel it’s the safest environment. I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis. You gotta clean some of that stuff up because it’s dissuasive to NBA players. They have talked about it. I know. They told me.”</p><p>Young <a href="https://x.com/mayorpaulyoung/status/1935154557052477665?s=46" rel="noopener">released a statement</a> via his social media account responding to Stephen A. Smith, saying:</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Stephen A. Smith’s Ja Morant, Grizzlies take debunked by Memphis mayor

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-stephen-a-smith-clarifies-memphis-criticism-ja-morant-beef');   ga('set', 'title', 'Stephen A. Smith clarifies Grizzlies criticism amid Ja Morant beef');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/hunder-guard-Lu-Dort-next-to-Grizzlies-guard-Ja-Morant.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Stephen A. Smith clarifies Grizzlies criticism amid Ja Morant beef</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-18T09:29:45-07:00">June 18th, 9:29am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-18T09:29:45-07:00">June 18th, 9:29am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Memphis Grizzlies have made the headlines over the past few days after making a trade to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/magic-news-desmond-bane-drops-massive-claim-on-orlando-jersey">send Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic</a>. A day after the trade, Stephen A. Smith wanted to discuss why he thinks no players wanted to be in Memphis, citing how it might not be the safest environment. That led to Ja Morant going on social media to stick up for his city, while also calling out the media for shedding a bad light on them.</p><p>Smith then went on to respond to Morant on social media, but the next day on First Take, he went on to <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1935348588764451157" rel="noopener">clarify his initial comments</a> about the city.</p><p>“I think the citizens in Memphis, I think a lot better can be done for them and Ja Morant staying put [with the Grizzlies] and being the galvanizing force that he can be, I think will assist in that. That’s what I was trying to say,” Smith said.</p><p>“I apologize if anybody was offended by it, but facts are facts,” Smith continued. “There are concerns in that city, and as a Black man in this country, who cares about my peeps, I’d be d—– if I would be silent when all of these troubles are taking place.”</p><p>From the looks of it, it seems as if Smith thought about how his comments could have affected the people who live in Memphis and decided to backtrack.</p><h2><b>Stephen A. Smith calls out Memphis when discussing Grizzlies</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-stephen-a-smith-claps-back-at-ja-morant-with-fiery-message">Smith initially called out Memphis</a> when saying players such as Jimmy Butler and others didn’t want to play there because it’s not safe. That’s when Morant went on X, formerly Twitter, and <a href="https://x.com/stephenasmith/status/1935124445103813005" rel="noopener">called out the media</a> talking about the city.</p><p>“Talkin bout the [Grizzlies] more than the finals,” Morant wrote. “[With] these [cap] ahh sources.”</p><p>That’s when Smith hopped on social media to clap back at Morant.</p><p>“So this is what we’re doing now @JaMorant? I recall talking about the Finals. But the @memgrizz made news because of Bane getting traded. AND, your possible extension coming up. Would you prefer I go into detail about WTH has been going on in Memphis? Why players have stated they’re not interested in going? Or even MORE details? Or would you like me to leave well enough alone, and let the great peeps of Memphis address it on their own? Your call! I’m all ears,” Smith wrote.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>