Gilbert Arenas wants to see Ja Morant at the Los Angeles Lakers.
The big problem? It doesn’t seem that the Memphis Grizzlies star is a fan of the team.
“I don’t like them,” Morant said after scoring 20 points in a 131-114 win at the FedExForum last Thursday.
“They knocked me out of the playoffs [in 2023]. And then last year we had a game, and they came here and popped it on our home floor when I was in street clothes. I wasn’t tonight.”
Morant played just 24 minutes in the win, leaving in the third quarter because of a right hamstring injury.
But he made his presence clear.
So much so, that three-time NBA All-Star Arenas is desperate for him to one day wear the iconic Lakers jersey.
Even if that means upsetting NFL legend Shannon Sharpe.
Morant and Sharpe have history stemming back to January 2023, when they engaged in a heated courtside conversation which also involved Dillon Brooks and Morant’s father.
The Hall of Famer exchanged words with Brooks throughout the first half and then shouted at Morant on the final possession of the second quarter.
After the half-time buzzer sounded, Brooks yelled back at Sharpe, who motioned toward him.
Morant then walked toward Sharpe at his courtside seat before center Steven Adams stepped in front of him.
Tee Morant, Ja’s father, also got involved in the conversation before security at the arena separated everyone.
Sharpe, who has made no secret of his support of Lakers star LeBron James, later suggested that the Grizzlies star “didn’t want this smoke” despite being seen hugging it out with Tee at the end of the third quarter.
Reflecting on the incident again in February of this year, the Denver Broncos legend called the incident “one of the worst moments of my life”.
However, if the Lakers do one day land Morant, it could cost him his seats – at least according to Arenas’ latest comments.
“Ja, man, listen,” he began on Gil’s Arena podcast.
“You don’t need to hate us, you know what I mean? LA would love you, man.
“Whatever, if Shannon’s gotta go, Shannon’s gotta go. We can revoke his tickets if you wanna come. It’s all I’m saying.
“Whoever you don’t want in the crowd, we will do that for you. So don’t just hate the Lakers. What I’m saying is you don’t need to just hate the Lakers as hate, right?
“Just, you don’t like them right now. You need a helicopter – whatever you need, we can provide for you. So, just keep your options open is all I’m saying.”
