Grizzlies analyst drops truth bomb on Ja Morant after arrest warrant report

On July 11, an arrest warrant was officially issued for Davonte Pack, a close friend of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, in relation to a fight involving a teenager during a pickup basketball game at the point guard’s home last year, per authorities.

Since this unfortunate event–where he, too, was a physical participant and is involved in a separate suit as a result–, the 23-year-old superstar has been intertwined with much controversy, most notably an off-court incident involving a firearm that will have him suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 campaign.

In response to these off-court happenings, this summer it seems as though Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman has made an effort to try and bring aboard veteran presences such as Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose to surround the franchise cornerstone with steady voices to keep him focused.

Though the hope is that these new additions will keep Ja Morant locked in and held in check, Grizzlies analyst and sideline reporter, Rob Fischer, suggests that simply acquiring such individuals is not enough to get the job done. In the end, it will come down to whether or not he wishes to accept change.

"“Their impact on Ja Morant, yea, on the surface you say ‘yes, they can help Ja Morant on the floor [and] they can help Ja Morant off the floor because they’ve been there in this situation.’ It all comes down to whether or not Ja Morant wants help,” Fischer said on Bally Sports’ The Rally.“Everything we’ve talked about Ja Morant this offseason — getting his mental right, which is something he talks about a lot of times, getting in the right head space, being a leader on the floor but off the court more so than anything else — this is up to Ja.“Ja’s got to want the help, Ja’s got to seek the help, Ja’s got to accept the help. The Grizzlies have put everything there in front of him. They have the resources to help him in every way possible. And now adding these two guys can only help with that leadership and help him grow into a veteran. But it’s up to Ja now.”"

Fischer would finish off the segment by noting that while both the veteran guards have the capability of having a “huge impact on Ja Morant,” ultimately, it’s “up to Ja to be willing to accept it.”

Fortunately, it appears Marcus Smart is already up to taking on such a challenge, as he stated in his introductory press conference with the Grizzlies that he loves to “push guys to the limit,” especially “a guy who’s great” like Ja Morant.

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