Overview
- Austin Rivers urged Morant to stop trash-talking and focus on returning to form, calling Thompson a top-three shooter with a legacy already secured.
- Rivers emphasized that Morant has not reached similar stature and said the episode lands poorly given his recent absences and uneven season.
- David West criticized Morant for jawing while not in uniform, saying, “Ja wasn’t even in a jersey,” in remarks on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
- Mychal Thompson said a four-time champion should ignore such taunts, noting his son’s accomplishments make the insult unworthy of a response.
- The confrontation, reportedly triggered by Morant calling Thompson a “bum” after a missed game-tying three, adds to the Warriors–Grizzlies rivalry dating to 2022.