The Memphis Grizzlies lost the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder for 125-112. But that was not the only loss for Ja Morant. Tee Morant, the father of the Grizzlies’ superstar, made “overtly disrespectful statements” toward the officiating crew, which led officials to eject him from the game.
The incident occurred late in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies loss, leading to confusion among fans and players. Officials called security to escort Tee from the stands, and he left the arena amid loud boos and chants.
However, after the game, Ja Morant expressed uncertainty about the exact reasons for his father’s ejection. He speculated that Tee may have been voicing his frustrations about the officiating, but later, his son hinted that Tee was somehow saving Morant’s ejection.
Status alert: Tee Morant ejected from courtside seat Saturday.
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) February 9, 2025
“He probably got kicked out, so I didn’t,” Ja remarked, suggesting that his father’s passionate defense might have crossed a line. Moreover, he added that Tee’s complaints targeted the referees, hinting that his father’s protective instincts kicked in.
Also Read: Charles Barkley Raises Concern Over Ja Morant’s “Reckless” Playing Style
NBA Official Opened Up On Exact Reason Behind Ja Morant’s Father’s Ejection
NBA crew chief official Josh Tiven and his officiating crew confirmed that they removed Tee Morant due to his repeated, disrespectful comments about the officials’ integrity. Despite the loss and the unexpected ejection, Ja continued to focus on improving his game rather than dwelling on the incident involving his father’s departure.
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Below is the official pool report interview as posted by the NBA:
QUESTION: “Why was the fan ejected during the fourth quarter of the game?”
TIVEN: “The fan continued to repeat overtly disrespectful statements about the integrity of the officiating crew, so as the Crew Chief, I approached security and asked that he be removed.”
QUESTION: “Was there something specific the fan said that warranted action to remove him?”
TIVEN: “Yes. There were very specific, overtly disrespectful comments made about the integrity of the crew.”
QUESTION: “Were you aware that the fan was the father of Grizzlies player Ja Morant?”
TIVEN: “Yes.”
TEE MORANT EJECTED: Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant’s father, Tee Morant, was ejected in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma City for being “overly disrespectful” to the officiating crew.
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) February 9, 2025
Thoughts? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CO7vXuHEQR
The tension escalated to the point where Tiven approached security to request Tee’s ejection. He also confirmed that he was aware of Tee Morant’s identity as Ja Morant’s father. Tee is known for being outspoken during games, so such incidents are not unusual for him.
Adding to the drama, reports stated that Tee yelled, “The fix is in!” immediately before his ejection while expressing his discontent with the game’s officiating.
Also Read: VIDEO: Young Fan Goes Wild After Grizzlies Star Jaren Jackson Jr. Points Out His Chain Courtside
