Things aren’t so hot between Ja Morant and the Grizzlies.
The star point guard was upset with the team’s new offense, which was implemented this season before the shocking firing of head coach Taylor Jenkins this week, according to a report from The Athletic.
Morant reportedly didn’t like that the new system took “the ball out of his hands and removes the screens he likes to use as a ball handler to make plays,” relying instead on more off-ball movement and cutting.
“Some days he looks like he’s ready to play, and some days he looks like he doesn’t want to be there … because he hates the offense,” one league source told the outlet.
The Grizzlies’ new offense was reportedly installed by now-interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo and assistant Noah LaRoche, who was fired alongside Jenkins.
Changes on the court weren’t the only thing that’s irked Morant of late.
The two-time All-Star also wasn’t happy that the franchise let go of assistant Blake Ahearn in a staff purge that saw five Grizzlies coaches under Jenkins lose their job after last season.
He reportedly had a good relationship with Jenkins and “remained supportive of the coach up to the end,” despite his troubles with the new offense.
A purportedly unhappy Morant and the Grizzlies are now entering a new era without Jenkins after he spent six seasons at the helm in Memphis, going 250-214.
The team is tied with the Lakers for fourth place in the Western Conference at 44-29 heading into Saturday’s play with nine games to go in the regular season.
Injuries have limited Morant to just 43 games this season.
When in the lineup, Morant is averaging 22.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists on 44.9 percent shooting — all of which represent a tick down from his last full season in 2022-23.