Ja Morant Criticizes LeBron, Lakers After Intense Game: 'I Don't Like Them'

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant had some choice words for the Los Angeles Lakers after he clashed with LeBron James during their game on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Morant helped lead the Grizzlies to a 131-114 over the Lakers on Wednesday, finishing the game at the FedEx Forum with 20 points. In a post-match interview, he indicated the victory was personal for him. "I did a 'too small' to somebody who was too small, [and] he came back and did it respectfully," he said, referring to "too small" taunts the players did to each other during the game. "He did it and I don't back down from nobody, I don't care who you are. ... You take out the top dog, who else you fear?"

When asked about the current Lakers roster, he instantly replied, "I don't like them."

He explained further, "They knocked me out the playoffs. Last year, we had a game and they came here popping on our home floor when I was in street clothes… (James) was just next on our schedule. The Lakers, actually, and I won’t even say him… They beat us on our home floor. They was laughing, playing, looking at me, talking. My message was I was in street clothes."

Wednesday's game was the first time the Grizzlies have faced off against the Lakers since the penultimate game of the 2023-24 season, which Morant was forced to sit out due to a season-ending shoulder injury.

Per ESPN, LeBron James also addressed their back-and-forth in a post-game interview, but he downplayed any serious animosity between them.

"Just two guys from the inner city who love to compete," he said. "That's how we all grew up, playing on the blacktop, playing outside, competing at a high level when there was no cameras around."