In the very good victory of the Thunder this night against the Grizzlies (115-109), one of the most striking moments of the evening was unfortunately far from an action on the floor. Indeed, at the very end of the first half, Ja Morant was the victim of what can now be defined as the most stupid expulsion of the year in the NBA.
The Christmas break will be good for everyone, including the referees.
Let’s explain the facts, so you can capture the stupidity of this live moment.
With 43 seconds left in the first period, and in a clearly poorly played game from the Grizzlies, Eugene Omoruyi is on the free throw line to put the Thunder up 22 points.
Far from the shooter, Ja Morant talks with a fan located at the edge of the field.
Usual talk for the Memphis point guard, who often likes to interact with the public and can occasionally motivate himself through these discussions.
“Let’s go“, says Lisa, this fan of Ja Morant who wears a hoodie with her favorite player on it.
“I’ll go for it, but it would be nice if the refs at least gave me a fucking whistle,” Morant replies.
Already victim of a first technical fault, Ja does not know it yet but the referee Ray Acosta will expel him on the spot.
This is the entire Morant episode so you can see for yourself. This is madness. pic.twitter.com/kye0DluWEn
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) December 18, 2022
Second technical fault, thank you, goodbye.
Completely amazed by the situation, the Memphis players immediately gather around the referee, trying to understand what their leader has done to deserve this dismissal.
But the match being forced to continue, Ja Morant is asked to join the locker room immediately, the latter having just enough time to make a heart with his fingers in the direction of the fan in question.
The match then resumed in total confusion, while the Grizzlies coaching staff – and the commentators – took the lead with both hands.
To reassure the fan, Ja Morant will even Facetime his father (Tee) live from the locker room. The scene is surreal.
— Jonathan Daniels (@J_Daniels17) December 18, 2022
How can you not shake your head at this kind of situation?
All this knowing, please, that the referees will try to justify themselves after the game by publicly indicating that Ja Morant used profanity towards them, questioning their integrity and their profession. But where are we going?
While this kind of issue may seem isolated here or there, the recent buildup can play tricks on the NBA and its image. Not only are the fans largely paying to see their favorite players on the court, but the logic behind this decision makes no sense. It is with this kind of scene that the climate between players and referees darkens.
While waiting to see what the NBA will say about it, one thing is certain: we have pushed the limits of the incomprehensible in terms of expulsions. Next step, sneeze into your napkin and that will probably be grounds for sending a player back to the locker room. We’re waking up.
