Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson responded critically to postgame trash talk from Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, following the Grizzlies’ 102-96 victory on Saturday night. Thompson, who scored a season-high 22 points but missed a potential tying three-pointer late in the game, expressed frustration with Morant’s verbal antics and alluded to his history of off-court controversies.
The confrontation occurred immediately after the final buzzer, with Morant—sidelined for a third consecutive game due to a calf strain—approaching Thompson on the court. Security personnel and coaches from both teams quickly intervened to separate the players, preventing any physical altercation. This incident is the latest chapter in a simmering rivalry that dates back to the 2022 playoffs, when Thompson’s Golden State Warriors eliminated the Grizzlies en route to an NBA championship.
In postgame comments, Thompson did not hold back, describing Morant as “a funny guy” who “has a lot to say all the time, especially for a guy who rarely takes accountability.” He criticized Morant for running his mouth from the bench and suggested that such behavior has characterized Morant’s career, which has been marked by unfulfilled potential. Thompson emphasized the importance of stars being on the court and fulfilling their responsibilities, expressing disappointment that Morant has let “a lot of other stuff get in the way.”
Morant escalated the tension by walking over to Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer during a postgame on-court interview and making a pointed remark about Thompson. “Tell him who the best shooter in the house was,” Morant said. “It wasn’t bro from Golden State.” This comment referenced Thompson’s reputation as one of the league’s elite shooters, adding a personal jab to the exchange.
Thompson dismissed Morant’s on-court comments as “nothing of intelligent depth” and connected them to Morant’s broader career challenges. Morant has faced multiple suspensions in recent seasons, including eight games in 2022-23 and 25 games in 2023-24 for incidents involving handguns on social media, as well as a one-game team suspension earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team. Currently, Morant is experiencing his worst statistical season, averaging 17.9 points on poor shooting percentages.
During the game itself, Thompson was involved in several other confrontations with Grizzlies players. He confronted forward Santi Aldama after a flagrant foul on Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg, which was upgraded upon review. Thompson and Grizzlies wing Vince Williams Jr. also received technical fouls for trash-talking. Thompson noted that Aldama’s foul reminded him of “dirty stuff” from the 2022 playoff series, specifically a flagrant foul by former Grizzly Dillon Brooks that injured Gary Payton II.
Reflecting on the Grizzlies’ team culture, Thompson expressed respect for the “Grit ‘n Grind” era teams but criticized the current roster for excessive talk without backing it up. “They just talk a lot,” he said. “They’ve always talked a lot. And never really backed it up either, so I don’t really respect that. I respect guys who back up the talk with play because talk is cheap.” This sentiment underscores a broader frustration with what Thompson perceives as a lack of substance behind the bravado.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the NBA between veteran players like Thompson, who have championship pedigrees, and younger stars like Morant, who are still seeking to validate their talk with consistent performance. As both teams move forward in the season, this rivalry is likely to add another layer of intensity to their future matchups, with Thompson’s comments setting the stage for continued scrutiny on Morant’s conduct and career trajectory.
