After the Kings beat the Warriors, the next move should be getting Ja Morant | Opinion
During my years in Tennessee, I became a Memphis Grizzlies fan. Like supporting the Sacramento Kings, it was a journey with few highs and plenty of lows. The Grizzlies’ recent success is largely due to their All-Star point guard, Ja Morant.
However, it appears that Morant and the Grizzlies are headed for a contentious divorce.
Returning from a recent one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, Morant was asked if he was playing with the same joy he once felt in Memphis. “No,” he said.
It was reported Tuesday that Morant has an 83% chance of being traded by the Feb. 5 trade deadline and the Kings are 4-1 favorites to acquire him.
It’s no surprise that, in the six years with the Memphis Grizzlies, the All-NBA star point guard’s excitement has waned.
Morant was drafted in 2019, at a time when Memphis, just as the rest of the country, was grappling with police brutality against Black Americans. Morant was vocal about police brutality and the treatment of Black Memphians. In 2023, Tyre Nichols’ killing by police cast a long shadow over the city. Morant spoke out against the tragedy.
Morant has further than just speaking out. He has invested into the community. In 2022, he refurbished 13 basketball courts throughout the Memphis area that were in need of renovation. Recently he invested $3.6 million to create a state-of-the-art shelter for homeless youth in Tennessee, providing housing and support services.
As the team’s young star, Morant became more than just an athlete. He was a leader for a community seeking answers. He used his platform to speak out and uplift others, even as the expectations placed on him grew heavier each season. And yes, he made some big mistakes.
In March 2023, Morant was suspended for eight games after brandishing a gun in an Instagram Live video at a Colorado nightclub. Two months later, Morant again flashed a gun in an Instagram Live video, resulting in a 25-game suspension at the start of the 2023-24 season. Other incidents included a scuffle with a teenage boy after a pick-up basketball game.
I was part of a small group of Morant sympathizers who felt that the NBA punished him not simply for the infractions, but also for the weight that he carried as a role model for a city with the highest crime rate in the country.
Morant’s mistakes should not categorize him as toxic or a nuisance for a team. Were these actions stupid? Of course, but they don’t tell the full story of a player who helped his team night in and night out to be the best it could be.
No criminal charges were filed against Morant in connection with any of these incidents. Truthfully, there is no problem with owning a gun and having it in public; ask any Second Amendment-loving American. I believe Morant was penalized because of the city he played in and, the insurmountable expectations placed on him.
Finding joy in Sac Town
In Sacramento, Morant will have that weight lifted as a member of the purple and black. He’ll have to get used to the sunny skies, palm trees, but he’ll surely manage. Kings star Domantas Sabonis’ wish for a top-tier point guard could finally be fulfilled if Morant arrives in Sacramento.
Not only is Morant a maestro with the pick-and-roll offense, but he also slashes through any defense with his quickness and speed. His presence would open up the floor for shooters like Keegan Murray and Malik Monk, and the Kings’ transition game would go to another level. Morant’s ability to attack the rim, create for others, and energize the crowd is exactly what Sacramento fans crave. The front office would have to get creative to put together an enticing package for Memphis, possibly involving draft picks and young players, but the payoff could be a deep playoff run and a new era of Kings basketball.
Yes, he will certainly be held to a high standard, but it’s a standard that pertains to his play on the court, not as a role model.
Everyone needs a fresh start, and Sacramento is the perfect place for Morant to have his.
This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 1:42 PM.
