Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended for Sunday’s game against the Toronto Raptors following a locker room confrontation with first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo, according to NBA insider Shams Charania on SportsCenter.
Charania reported that tension had been building between Morant and Iisalo over the coach’s rotation decisions and play-calling before matters escalated during Friday’s 117–112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the postgame locker room, Iisalo reportedly questioned Morant’s leadership and effort in front of the team, prompting what was described as an “inappropriate and dismissive” response from the 26-year-old guard.
Following the exchange, Memphis officials met privately and decided to hand down a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. Morant is expected to return Monday when the Grizzlies host the Detroit Pistons.
The suspension follows a frustrating night for Morant, who finished with eight points on 3-for-14 shooting against Los Angeles, missing all six of his three-point attempts. After the game, he offered few words to reporters, repeatedly saying, “Go ask the coaching staff,” when questioned about the team’s struggles and his performance.
Morant’s body language during the loss also raised concerns. In the second half, he briefly walked away from the bench during a timeout, appearing visibly frustrated with the team’s offensive execution.
This marks another disciplinary setback in Morant’s career. He previously served 33 games’ worth of suspensions in 2023 following incidents involving firearms and was fined last season for making a gun gesture during a game. Charania noted that several teams around the league are monitoring how Morant’s relationship with Iisalo and the Grizzlies organization develops in the coming weeks.
Despite his early-season inconsistency, Morant has been averaging 20.8 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds through six games while shooting 40.6 percent from the field. The Grizzlies have gone 3–3 to start the 2025–26 campaign, with the offense still adjusting to Iisalo’s system.
