Blake Griffin Calls Out Ja Morant's Effort in Grizzlies vs. Lakers, 'Very Bad Sign'

Former NBA star Blake Griffin called out Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant for his apparent lack of effort in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Griffin, now an analyst for Amazon Prime, said Morant's effort Friday was "a very bad sign."

"This is a guy who is insanely talented," Griffin said while breaking down film from the game. "Speed is his No. 1 weapon, and coming off a ball screen, passing the ball like this, kind of lazily cutting to the corner, that's just not what's gonna get it done for Memphis... For a guy that's making $40 million and needs to be the leader of this team, I just don't love it. I don't know if he was not feeling well, if he's hurt, but that to me is a very bad sign and something that has to change."

The Grizzlies lost Friday's matchup 117-112 behind Morant's worst performance of the year. He had just eight points on a lackluster 3-of-14 from the field and 0-of-6 from deep.

Lakers-Grizzlies Full Highlights

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After the game, Morant appeared to be frustrated with his coaches. When asked what went wrong for him in the loss, he told reporters to "go ask the coaching staff." He was then asked what the Grizzlies could have done better in general, to which he answered, "According to [the coaching staff], probably don't play me."

Considering Morant's answers after the game and his apparent lack of effort during, it's fair to assume the star is frustrated with the coaching staff early on this year.

The Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins last season, handing the keys to Tuomas Iisalo to finish out the year as interim. Iisalo was then named Memphis' head coach, so the Grizzlies are still dealing with some of the growing pains that come with having a new coach.

Memphis has had a 3-3 start to the season, but its three wins have come against Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers and New Orleans Pelicans, all of whom haven't exactly looked liked contenders early on.

What's more, Morant hasn't been himself, putting up 20.8 points, 6.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 40.6 percent from the field and an abysmal 15.6 percent from deep.

The Grizzlies are a playoff-caliber team when healthy, but they need Morant to do more than what he's done so far.