On Friday night, tensions between Hall of Fame football player Shannon Sharpe and Ja Morant’s father boiled over at the Memphis Grizzlies’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sharpe and Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks got into it as the teams were leaving the court at the end of the second quarter.
Steven Adams, a teammate of Brooks, went to confront Sharpe with a few other players, and then Tee Morant, the father of Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, got into an argument with him and had to be separated by security.
Attempting to defuse the situation, Sharpe was led into the tunnel, where he spoke to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, alleging that Brooks was responsible for starting the fight.
At halftime, Sharpe said to McMenamin, “They didn’t want this smoke.” “They do all the talking and playing politics, and I have no interest in joining in. It all began with Dillon Brooks. I warned that he couldn’t handle LeBron James’s size on defense.
This is what he had to say: “F—-‘ me. To which I replied, “F—- you.”” I saw his anger rising and warned him, “You don’t want these problems.” Then, out of nowhere, Ja started chatting.
He didn’t ask for these issues. Then the father arrived, and he clearly didn’t want any trouble. However, I wished I could have bought everything they sold. Don’t get taken in by these dummies.”
At the end of the third quarter, Sharpe was let back into the game and he hugged Tee Morant before taking his seat for the second half.
Tee Morant stated on the NBA on TNT broadcast that he and Sharpe were good and that he “had nothing but for him,” and that their exchange was simply a passionate one between two people who were supporting their teams.