Following Memphis Grizzlies practice on Wednesday, Oct. 18, Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins addressed recently released ESPN article titled “‘Then the alligators got him’: Inside Ja Morant’s 18-month downfall.”
The piece from ESPN reported changes in Morant’s behavior over the last 18 months, citing tense meetings with the team via anonymous sources, changes in Morant’s drinking habits and a local business owner who “‘hated’ to see Morant and his group walk through the door.”
“I read the article, and I’m not going to comment on anonymous sources,” Jenkins said. “I’m not really going to comment on the past. I’m really just focused on the present and the strides he is making, positive strides and the strides that the team is making.”
Jenkins said he addressed both Morant and the team as a result of the report on Wednesday.
“I spoke to Ja today and wanted him to know that he has 100% support from us and his teammates,” Jenkins said. “I addressed it with the team as well. It’s not an elephant in the room because we don’t look at it that way. If there’s someone on the outside who is not with us knows what’s going on here and wants to write these articles, then we will address it and squash it.”
“… We are not going to pay much time to it at all. We have a lot of stuff to work on.”
Morant’s teammates were also familiar with the article. Xavier Tillman Sr. said Morant is “cool and laid back,” a great dad and that when he is comfortable around you, he likes to have fun and joke around.
So did he find the article to be frustrating as a team?
“It’s really on the annoying side,” Tillman said. “Everybody knows about the situation, and we are all working to get past it. The fact that we are bringing it up and nothing else is going on is kind of like, ‘What are we doing?’”
Desmond Bane said Morant’s teammates will continue to have his back.
“People are bringing up anything they can just to have something for people to read,” Bane said. “We ain’t worried about that. We are with 12.
“We are keeping everything in house. We are holding everything together. We will have his back through it all.”
DetectingFarts
Respect to TJ and the team
vzsax
This team has always, for my entire 20+ years as a diehard fan, played better as the team everyone writes off than favorites. Let’s roll – I feel great about this year.
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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Following Memphis Grizzlies practice on Wednesday, Oct. 18, Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins addressed recently released ESPN article titled “‘Then the alligators got him’: Inside Ja Morant’s 18-month downfall.”
The piece from ESPN reported changes in Morant’s behavior over the last 18 months, citing tense meetings with the team via anonymous sources, changes in Morant’s drinking habits and a local business owner who “‘hated’ to see Morant and his group walk through the door.”
“I read the article, and I’m not going to comment on anonymous sources,” Jenkins said. “I’m not really going to comment on the past. I’m really just focused on the present and the strides he is making, positive strides and the strides that the team is making.”
Jenkins said he addressed both Morant and the team as a result of the report on Wednesday.
“I spoke to Ja today and wanted him to know that he has 100% support from us and his teammates,” Jenkins said. “I addressed it with the team as well. It’s not an elephant in the room because we don’t look at it that way. If there’s someone on the outside who is not with us knows what’s going on here and wants to write these articles, then we will address it and squash it.”
“… We are not going to pay much time to it at all. We have a lot of stuff to work on.”
Morant’s teammates were also familiar with the article. Xavier Tillman Sr. said Morant is “cool and laid back,” a great dad and that when he is comfortable around you, he likes to have fun and joke around.
So did he find the article to be frustrating as a team?
“It’s really on the annoying side,” Tillman said. “Everybody knows about the situation, and we are all working to get past it. The fact that we are bringing it up and nothing else is going on is kind of like, ‘What are we doing?’”
Desmond Bane said Morant’s teammates will continue to have his back.
“People are bringing up anything they can just to have something for people to read,” Bane said. “We ain’t worried about that. We are with 12.
“We are keeping everything in house. We are holding everything together. We will have his back through it all.”
Respect to TJ and the team
This team has always, for my entire 20+ years as a diehard fan, played better as the team everyone writes off than favorites. Let’s roll – I feel great about this year.