Grizzlies head coach Toumas Iisalo is still settling into his first full season in Memphis, but tensions already appear to be surfacing between him and his franchise star, Ja Morant.
Following the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, Morant expressed visible frustration with the coaching staff when asked about his performance.
After being questioned by reporters about his struggles in the game, Morant repeatedly responded, “Go ask the coaching staff,” and “Go ask him,” seemingly pointing to Iisalo.
When pressed further for additional thoughts on the loss, Morant added, “According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly. That’s basically what the message was after,” according to Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Morant had one of his worst outings of the season, scoring just eight points on 3-of-14 shooting while adding seven assists in just under 31 minutes of play.
He has yet to exceed 32 minutes in any of Memphis’s first six games, a limitation noted by Josh Robbins of The Athletic. On the defensive end, Morant also struggled to contain Luka Doncic, who erupted for 44 points in the Lakers’ win.
When asked if his reduced workload was tied to an injury, Morant dismissed the idea, insisting he was fine physically. The media, however, did not have the opportunity to speak with Iisalo following Morant’s comments to hear the coach’s side.
Former All-Star Blake Griffin, now working as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video, criticized Morant’s public comments and leadership after the game.
“For a guy that’s making $40 million and needs to be the leader of the team, I just don’t love it,” Griffin said, via Robbins. “I don’t know if he was not feeling well, if he’s hurt. But that, to me, is a very bad sign and is something that … has to change.”
Through six games, Morant is averaging modest numbers by his standards, shooting 40.6 percent from the field and just 15.6 percent from three-point range. He’s currently in the third year of his five-year, $197.2 million contract, and the Grizzlies are off to a 3–3 start.
Morant, who was suspended twice in 2023 for conduct detrimental to the league after being seen with a weapon on social media, is no stranger to controversy.
His latest comments suggest a growing disconnect with the new coaching staff, leaving questions about whether this tension could eventually lead to a trade request or prompt Memphis to reconsider his long-term role with the franchise.
Ja Morant Expresses Frustration With Coaching Staff After Poor Outing https://t.co/9nd9i6Hk83 pic.twitter.com/5BI8En8LaI
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 1, 2025
