Questions surrounding Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies star’s future with his team have continued to be raised over the past several days. Now, recent reports have emerged implying that the friction or tension between Morant and the Grizzlies runs deeper than many presumed.
Although Morant can be viewed as one of the most athletic young point guards among the upcoming stars in the league, his career with the Grizzlies has been filled with issues. Over the past few seasons, Morant has established an infamous reputation for himself and has been suspended multiple times for his off-court behavior.
Fans had hoped for the Grizzlies to leave those issues in the past and enter this ongoing season with a positive mentality. However, it turns out that Morant has a problem with the Grizzlies’ new head coach, Tuomas Iisalo.
Ja Morant Is Not on the Same Page With the Grizzlies’ Coach
Citing inside sources, Dallas Hoops Journal writer Ashish Mathur claimed in a recent report that Morant prefers the Grizzlies’ previous coach, Taylor Jenkins, and “hates” playing for Iisalo. The Grizzlies’ franchise cornerstone has allegedly found an issue with Iisalo’s short shift lineups and frequent substitutions. After all, decisions such as time-outs and substitutions play a huge role when leading a team to victory.
Although only a handful of games have passed in the ongoing 2025-2026 season, Morant’s apparent lack of faith in his team’s coaching is a serious cause for concern. As things stand, the Grizzlies hold a record of four wins and six losses, placing them 10th in the Western Conference.
Although they won their latest matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, they had been on a four-game losing streak before that, a poor start for any team looking to qualify for the playoffs. Morant has averaged a decent 20 points in the first eight games of this season. However, some will remember that he struggled greatly in a recent matchup against the Lakers, recording only eight points in 31 minutes of action.
Since Morant is the Grizzlies’ best player and only chance at having any impact in the postseason, perhaps Iisalo should play him for more than 30 minutes a game. Nonetheless, it is the coach’s job to observe the flow of the game and make timely substitutions.
While critics will be quick to attack Morant and defend the Grizzlies’ coach, their subpar performance to start this season speaks for itself. Fans are left hoping that the team is able to resolve its internal issues and regain momentum as soon as possible.
