Overview
- Morant served the suspension Sunday in Toronto and forfeited about $272,042, equal to 1/145th of his $39.4 million salary.
- Reporting says the exchange occurred in front of teammates after Friday’s 117-112 loss to the Lakers and capped several days of friction over rotations, plays and his role.
- In that loss, Morant scored a season-low eight points on 3-of-14 shooting and told reporters multiple times to “go ask the coaching staff,” later adding, “According to them, probably don’t play me.”
- Through six games, he is averaging 20.8 points in a career-low 28.5 minutes with inefficient shooting, contributing to the strain under first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo.
- He is expected to rejoin the team for Monday’s home game, with league observers reported to be watching the player-coach dynamic following the rare team-issued suspension.