The Grizzlies just won back-to-back games for the first time this season, posted a season-high 61 rebounds, and registered a franchise single-game high 42 assists in the game against the Kings on November 20th. Their close victory on the road against the Mavericks should be the talk of the town, right?
The Grizzlies' injured star guard, Ja Morant, and Mavericks guard Klay Thompson had a postgame interaction that has taken over the headlines following Memphis' second road win of the season. Klay Thompson himself had his best game of the season with 22 points on 6-12 shooting from three, but missed a game-tying three-point attempt with 20.3 seconds remaining.
After an exchange of words between Klay and several Grizzlies players in the third quarter following a Santi Aldama flagrant foul on Cooper Flagg, Ja Morant joined the fray after the game, approaching Klay and allegedly calling him a "bum." Klay then responded in his postgame interview with a barrage of quotes at Morant and the Grizzlies, igniting the flame they had in his previous stop.
Klay Thompson will always be an enemy of the Grizzlies
Just because Klay Thompson is in a different jersey doesn't mean the Grizzlies have forgotten his comments towards Jaren Jackson Jr. after his last championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2022. Ja Morant allegedly calling Klay a bum was a dig at Klay not being the same player he was at his peak, and for Klay calling Jaren Jackson Jr. the same in his postgame interview after his last championship.
Klay Thompson's postgame interview last night even dug into his history with the Grizzlies, as he said he respected the Grit N' Grind era with Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, and Tony Allen. However, he hasn't respected this current era with Ja Morant at the helm due to their trash-talking method. Specifically about Morant, Klay said he runs his mouth while on the bench and has been doing it for a long time.
Was there a lot of truth in what Klay Thompson said about Ja Morant and the Grizzlies? It likely is. It is also a sign that the Grizzlies are back to their trash-talking ways that had the whole NBA frustrated a couple of seasons ago when the Grizzlies clashed against Klay and the Warriors in the playoffs. Despite what side you stand on, the postgame interaction between the Grizzlies and Klay could be the moment that energizes Memphis to turn its season around.