NBA analyst Bill Simmons didn’t hold back in his criticism of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant following their 125-141 defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While most critics focus on Ja Morant’s flashy celebrations, Simmons dug deeper into an issue that could prove fatal to the Grizzlies‘ postseason aspirations.
Despite Morant’s impressive offensive performance with 36 points and six assists, Simmons zeroed in on the guard’s glaring defensive limitations that were ruthlessly exposed by the Timberwolves.
“Oh, Ja Morant. He’s doing a grenade (celebration) now. He was doing the gun before, now he’s doing the grenade celebration.
“It’s like, how about some defense, Ja Morant?” Simmons blasted on his podcast.
“Why don’t you guard somebody?” This criticism highlights a longstanding issue in Morant’s game.
The electrifying point guard has never been particularly strong defensively, a weakness that becomes particularly problematic when matched up against powerful, explosive stars like Anthony Edwards.
The Timberwolves repeatedly targeted Morant in their offensive schemes, with Edwards proving unstoppable regardless of who Memphis put in front of him.
The Minnesota star delivered a dominant performance with 44 points on incredibly efficient 13-of-19 shooting, including 7-of-11 from beyond the arc in 38 minutes.
Morant’s defensive struggles weren’t just visible in this game–his defensive win share statistics have declined compared to his last full season, indicating a troubling trend rather than an isolated incident.
Simmons’ frustration with Morant led to open speculation about potential trade scenarios, including a hypothetical deal with the Washington Wizards.
“Would you trade Jordan Poole and the fourth pick for Ja Morant?” Simmons proposed to his co-host Joe House, who rejected the idea.
What makes this criticism particularly concerning is that Morant’s offensive numbers have also declined.
His points, assists, and rebounds per game have all dropped, raising questions about his trajectory.
With the Grizzlies unlikely to contend for a title in their current state and signs of franchise stagnation becoming apparent, trade speculation surrounding their star player may continue to intensify if these trends persist.
