Fox Sports personality and former tight-end NFL Shannon Sharpe had to be separated from Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant’s father, Tee, half-way through a game between Memphis and the Lakers on Friday night.
Sharpe and Tee Morant argued in the stands while the Grizzlies led the scoreboard. Tee Morant argued with Sharpe, and both were separated by security.
In video of the incident, Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks can be seen yelling in Sharpe’s direction as he walked back to the Grizzlies bench. Sharpe then shouts at Brooks, signaling him to approach him. Grizzlies center Steven Adams then approached Sharpe, and the altercation grew warmer and warmer than other players followed. Sharpe was sitting by the court.
In the scrum, Tee Morant approached Sharpe, and appeared to exchange words. When Tee Morant was taken away by security, Sharpe shouted and pointed at him as he attempted to approach Sharpe, but he was also arrested by security.
“They didn’t want this smoke,” Sharpe told ESPN. “They do all that talking and jockeying and I ain’t about the jockeying. It started with Dillon Brooks. I said he was too small to guard LeBron. He said ‘F***’ me I said, ‘F***’ you back. He started to come at me and I said, ‘You don’t want these problems.’
“And then Ja came out of nowhere talking. He definitely didn’t want these problems. Then the dad came and he obviously didn’t want no problems. But I wanted anything they had. Don’t let these fools fool you now.”
After half-time both Sharpe and the elder Morant could be seen smiling and hugging it out.
Tee Morant — father of Ja Morant — tells @NBAonTNT / @BleacherReport he and Shannon Sharpe “are good” and has “nothing but love for him.” Said it’s just two guys from the South talking trash and supporting their teams.”
The Lakers won 122-121, shattering the Grizzlies’ 11-win streak. After the game, Ja was asked about the incident, which he responded, ……………… Let me think. Nah. I ain’t going to address that. I’m going to let him lay over there.”