Ja Morant and Desmond Bane spent five years together with the Memphis Grizzlies, steering the team to numerous playoff runs. However, the squad’s reputation took a hit when videos surfaced of Morant with a gun in 2023, holding the Grizzlies back from reaching their full potential.
Bane, who was traded to the Orlando Magic last offseason, got candid about his relationship with Morant during an episode of The Pivot Podcast. In the episode, Bane sent a defiant message to Morant against his critics following the gun incidents.
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“Go kill,” Bane said before explaining how getting success on the court would immediately change the narrative around him.
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“Like you go step on the court, vaverage 30 and 10, make a playoff run. What they going to say?” he added. “At the end of the day, like that’s what we get paid to do. We get paid to put the ball in the basket and win games. And like if he go do that, then they hating on him, but they also need him.”
From March to May 2023, numerous videos of Morant with a firearm surfaced on social media, prompting the NBA to suspend him for 25 regular-season games. In that same season, the Grizzlies slid to the 13th spot in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs.
Last season, the Grizzlies entered the playoffs as the eighth seed, but lost to the eventual NBA champions OKC Thunder, in the first round.
Bane is now with the Magic, where he is averaging 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
Meanwhile, Morant has been struggling this season, posting his lowest numbers since his rookie year, averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 assists per game. His poor showing this season has resulted in numerous trade rumblings.
Desmond Bane says Ja Morant is far from what the media portrays him as
Desmond Bane defended Ja Morant from critics, saying that he is far from what most people portray him as.
According to Bane, Morant’s reputation does not reflect who he really is.
“It was great from the jump. I always talk about it – the way that the media and everybody tries to portray him is not who he is,” Bane said.
“Say we go to kick it somewhere, he’s the dude who sets it up, he’s going to make sure everybody is safe, getting home, they get some food. He’s really trying to take care of you. That’s probably one of the first things I noticed. He’s extremely loyal to his people.”
While their friendship remained strong despite being on different teams, the two are expected to be fierce competitors once they face off on the court.
The Magic are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 14-9 record, while the Grizzlies are at ninth in the West with a 10-13 slate.
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Edited by Rob Andrew Lo