An ugly start in Oklahoma City got worse when Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was ejected. Check out why did Ja Morant get elected.

Ja Morant : Ejected | why did get elected | Stats

Morant was only lightly recruited by NCAA Division I programs and unranked by recruiting services, despite having been named All-Region Most Valuable Player three times and earning All-State honors at Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina.

Ja Morant : Ejected | why did get elected | Stats

Nevertheless, he made an immediate impact at Murray State University, earning first-team all-conference honors in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) as a freshman.

He had a breakout sophomore season; it saw him win OVC Player of the Year as well as lead the NCAA in assists.

Also as a sophomore, Morant became the first player in NCAA history to average 20-plus points and 10-plus assists per game for a single season.

Ja Morant Ejected 

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was ejected from their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night after he was seen talking to a fan sitting courtside at the Paycom Center.

In the final minute of the second quarter in Oklahoma City, Morant suddenly received two technicals and was ejected, which sparked quite a confusing sequence on the floor.

Ja Morant : Ejected | why did get elected | Stats

Grizzlies players and coaches immediately questioned the officials, as it was not really clear what Morant had done wrong.

Replay showed Morant wasn’t talking to the official behind him, and his conversation with the fan wasn’t extraordinary.

Morant eventually walked off the court, and flashed a heart sign and a thumbs up toward the fan — so clearly, he didn’t take anything personally.

Dillon Brooks received a technical foul during the incident, too.

The fan seemed just as confused as everyone else, too. Lisa, the spectator in question, was wearing a Morant sweatshirt, and is a “Ja Morant superfan” who lives in the area.

Morant’s dad actually walked out to find Lisa after with Morant on FaceTime so that he could speak with her, too. Clearly, Morant wasn’t upset with her.

Morant finished the night with 6 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.

Officials said after that Morant was ejected for “use of profanity directed at an official” and for “questioning the integrity of the officials.”

When asked about Morant speaking with the fan and not the officials, crew chief John Goble said the conversation had nothing to do with Morant’s ejection.

Why did Ja Morant get ejected 

John Gable, the NBA official, was in charge of one of the most surprising technical fouls involving the Memphis Grizzlies game on Ja Morant, in which they lost 11-109 against the OKC Thunder. Morant says he was interacting with the fans and was given the technical foul for the second time.

Ja Morant : Ejected | why did get elected | Stats

Ja Morant said he only interacted with the fans, and John Gable issued him a second technical foul.

The incident happened before the first half was about to end. However, Gable said he did not give Morant a technical foul for his fan interaction.

Morant questioned the integrity of the officials, which led to him getting a technical foul. Gable said Morant questioned the integrity of the officials, which led to him getting a second technical foul.

Lisa is a superfan of Ja Morant and said Ja told her that he could not do much as the referees missed a call as she was hyping him up when his team was down 20 points.

She said she asked Ja to continue, saying, “let’s go,” but he said he couldn’t do much because the referees missed the call.

The comment might have been the one that led to him exiting. While the referees have been far from consistent in the current season, any questions by the players have been met with hostility.

Morant clarified that he did not blame his fans for the exit. Morant even called his dad on video and interacted with his fans.

Stats

Morant was drafted second overall during the 2019 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. On July 2, 2019, he signed a four-year contract worth $39.6 million with the Grizzlies.

Ja Morant : Ejected | why did get elected | Stats

Year
Team    
GP
Min
Pts
FG% 
Reb   
Ast   
2022
MEM
24
32.0
26.7
45.3
6.7
7.7
2021
MEM
57
33.1
27.4
49.3
5.7
6.7
2020
MEM
63
32.6
19.1
44.9
4.0
7.4
2019
MEM
67
31.0
17.8
47.7
3.9
7.3
Career
 
211
32.2
21.8
47.2
4.7
7.2

On July 6, 2022, Morant signed a five-year extension with the Grizzlies. The deal includes $193 million of guaranteed money, increasing to $231 million contingent upon his selection to an All-NBA team.

And On October 21, in the second game of the season, Morant recorded 49 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 blocks on 17-of-26 shooting from the field in a 129–122 win over the Houston Rockets. He set the Grizzlies franchise mark for most points scored through the first two games of a season (83).

On November 27, Morant put up his fifth career triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists in a 127–123 win over the New York Knicks. He also tied Marc Gasol for the most triple-doubles in Grizzlies history.

On December 7, Morant put up his sixth career triple-double with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists In a 123–102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He also surpassed Marc Gasol for the most triple-doubles in Grizzlies history.

By Rishabh

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