Ja Morant isn't going to let young fan wearing Warriors jersey in Memphis go unnoticed
Ja Morant had no interest in high-fiving anyone in a Golden State Warriors jersey, even a young kid toward the end of the Memphis Grizzlies' 10th consecutive win on Tuesday night.
After Morant finished with a layup while being fouled to make it seven-point game with 28.9 seconds left, he flexed and stepped into the crowd. A young fan in a Warriors jersey had his hand raised hoping for a high-five, but Morant stared at him and said a few words.
The Grizzlies went on to win, 116-108, and Morant told reporters afterward how the child was "disrespectful" in wearing the wrong team at FedExForum. But he also vowed to make sure the child could properly represent Memphis.
Ja had no mercy for a kid wearing a Warriors jersey in Memphis 😂
(via @memgrizz)pic.twitter.com/KOiOq6ufae— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 12, 2022
"He was disrespectful with that jersey on," Morant said. "We in Memphis. It looked like he wanted to cheer, but he had that jersey on. I apologized to him, but in that moment, bro, take the jersey off and then dap me up. ... Somebody find his information because I'll send him one myself."
The Grizzlies ran with Morant's comments and announced a promotion on Wednesday offering jersey swaps and free tickets to Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves for children 12 and younger who have a jersey of "any old opposing player." While supplies last, of course. They'll have their choice of a Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr. jersey in return.
New Year, New Jerseys
Tomorrow at 5pm, kids 12 and under can exchange any old opposing player NBA jersey for a new Ja Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr. replica jersey + two tickets to the game.
Full Details: https://t.co/BuEbOexfnh pic.twitter.com/uZvdOYMldb— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 13, 2022
Morant led all scorers on Tuesday with 29 points, adding eight assists, five rebounds and two blocks. The Grizzlies led by as many as 18 points in the first half and outscored the Warriors, 29-18, in the fourth quarter. Stephen Curry had a 27-point triple-double, but scored only two points in the final frame as Morant made two buckets in the final minute to give the Grizzlies enough of a cushion.
Ja Morant said it was "disrespectful" for the kid wearing a Steph jersey to high five him after his last shot and that he has no mercy for him 😂
He offered to send him a Morant jersey and hopes he returns as a Grizzlies fan pic.twitter.com/TaFRRm2Tu5— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2022
The Grizzlies last lost on Dec. 23 to the Warriors on the road. It's a franchise-record 10-game winning streak and the longest active winning streak in the league. They've won 20 of the last 24 games.
Morant is the youngest player to average at least 25 points per game during a team's winning streak of 10 games or more, per Elias Sports Bureau. The point guard is 22 years and 154 days old. He is averaging 25.1 points and 5.8 assists in the stretch.
The Grizzlies (29-14) are fourth in the Western Conference and next face the Minnesota Timberwolves back home at FedExForum on Thursday. No word on if the young fan will be back, this time in a more respectful Grizzlies jersey supplied by a Morant.