Ja Morant Takes Responsibility for Grizzlies Exit: 'It Wasn't All Me'

Ja Morant said Wednesday that he accepts responsibility for the trouble he caused with the Memphis Grizzlies, though he does not believe he was the only reason the franchise ended up trading him to the Portland Trail Blazers in June.

The Athletic reported Morant's comments a day before Portland hosts Memphis on Thursday night.

The NBA suspended Morant twice for incidents involving a gun. He sat out eight games in March 2023 after he displayed one during an Instagram Live stream from a Colorado nightclub.

On June 16, 2023, the league announced a second suspension, this one for 25 games. Morant returned that December and played 9 games before season-ending shoulder surgery.

Memphis traded Desmond Bane in the 2025 offseason and Jaren Jackson Jr. at the February deadline. Morant followed in June.

Morant traced that sequence back to his own trouble.

"Obviously, [the Grizzlies] was at a great point … and obviously, I got into trouble," Morant said. "And the dominoes pretty much went from there. Guys started getting traded. New guys coming in … and then it came to me. I take responsibility for stuff that I caused, but it wasn't all me."

Memphis went 56-26 in 2021-22 and 51-31 in 2022-23. The Grizzlies finished second in the Western Conference both seasons, and the 2022 team beat Minnesota in the first round before falling to the Golden State Warriors in six games. A year later, the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated Memphis in six games in the first round.

Last season, Morant appeared in 20 games and averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists before a sprained UCL in his left elbow ended his year. Memphis finished 25-57 and lost 21 of its last 23 games.

Other people are the ones still bringing it up, Morant said.

"I've been and did that," Morant explained. "Only other people continue to bring the stuff up. Some wanted me gone and still talk about me, and I'm gone. I don't get that."

"But obviously, I know what I've done," Morant continued. "I know the stuff I caused, the wrong light I brought onto the organization when I had my troubles. But … can't take away the good I did, either."

In September, Morant said he needed a fresh start after seven seasons in Memphis.

Portland beat Phoenix 124-83 in its opener and won 128-120 at the Sacramento Kings two nights later. On Tuesday, the Trail Blazers won 136-129 in Los Angeles.

Through those three games, Morant has averaged 16.3 points and 6.3 assists. He has made 58.8% of his shots, according to The Athletic.

In Memphis, Morant said, he was "the head of the snake." Portland's leadership group includes Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija, Jrue Holiday, and Toumani Camara.

"There was a lot more pressure on me than it is now," Morant said. "Now I don't have to go out and tax my body or do anything too much, with the guys I've got playing now. We are playing well. It's just about me doing my job."

The role and the 3-0 start have Morant viewing the June trade as a good thing.

"A fresh start is always good," Morant said. "I didn't want to leave. Memphis was enough to me, but I'm in a good place now. I'm feeling good. I'm happy. We got things rolling here. Great city, great fans. Everything's so far here has been good for me, and I'm loving it."

Memphis is 4-0 in its first season without Morant since 2018-19. Ty Jerome scored a career-high 45 points in the opener against the Utah Jazz and was the Western Conference Player of the Week for the season's opening week.

Memphis received Jerami Grant and Kris Murray for Morant. Both spent last season in Portland.

Thursday's tip-off is at 9 p.m. CT. Morant's contract runs through the 2027-28 season.