Ja Morant Receives Troublesome Warning From Stephen A. Smith

Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant has fallen from near superstar levels during his first few years in the NBA to the middle of the pack over the past two seasons due to a combination of injuries and controversial actions off the court. 

Because of his downgrade over the past years, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith issued a grim warning to Morant, accusing him of not working on his game, which resulted in his stagnant improvement. 

“You Ja, and you don’t look like you spent a second in the gym,” Stephen A. said in the Out the Mud podcast hosted by Grizzlies legends Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen. “Tell me one thing about Ja Morant’s game that he has worked on? I’m not telling you he can’t play because he’s naturally gifted. But he looks like the same cat as when he first came into the league.”

Stephen A. cited numerous aspects of Morant’s game, including his shooting, a facet that many considered as his weakest one since he came into the NBA in 2019. If Morant does not work on this, Stephen A. said that he could be out of the league soon. 

“I’m looking at Ja like, yo bro, you ain’t going to work on your game? You shot 23% from 3. You are a PG,” he said. “Everything ain’t about dunking. You have to work on your mid-range. Work on your 3-point shot. Otherwise, you’re going to be out of the league. That’s just facts.”

In the 2025-2026 NBA season, Morant shot 23.5% from the 3-point line on over four attempts per game. Morant only appeared in 20 games, averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. 

Morant suffered a lingering elbow injury throughout the season, impacting the Grizzlies’ campaign, which only yielded 25 wins. 

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Stephen A. Smith Brings Back Previous Comments About Ja Morant

In the same podcast, Stephen A. Smith also brought back his previous comments about Morant and Memphis. 

The ESPN analyst revisited his verbal blows with Morant, where Stephen A. said that he does not feel the same anymore in Memphis after the Grizzlies star’s gun incident. Morant subsequently called out Stephen A. for establishing negative narratives about the city.

“You got the hunger to come at me for my comments about Memphis,” he said. “I wouldn’t have to worry about it if you were the player you were supposed to be. When they put him on the trade block, there were no takers.”

There were reports about the Grizzlies shopping Morant this season, but a trade did not come through.

Over the past two seasons, the Grizzlies have traded Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., both of whom played a crucial role in the Grizzlies’ contendership three years ago. 

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Grizzlies Could Change Fortunes in the NBA Draft

The Memphis Grizzlies have a chance to change their current fortunes in the upcoming NBA draft. 

Entering the draft lottery on Saturday, the Grizzlies have a 9% chance at the top pick. In a stacked draft, the Grizzlies could benefit the most and re-establish an optimistic future. 

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