Almost two years removed from when former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe got into an altercation with the Memphis Grizzlies while attending a game between the Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers, former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas said that he would revoke Sharpe’s tickets if it would allow the Lakers to land star guard Ja Morant.
Arenas made the comments after Morant said earlier this week that he doesn’t like the Lakers because they eliminated him from the playoffs two seasons ago.
“Ja, man, listen,” Arenas began. “… You don’t need to hate us, you know what I mean? … L.A. would love you, man. You know what I mean? Listen, listen — whatever, if Shannon gotta go, Shannon gotta go. We can revoke his tickets if you wanna come. It’s all I’m sayin’.
“It’s like whoever you don’t want in the crowd, we will do that for you. So don’t just hate the Lakers. … What I’m sayin’ is don’t — you don’t need to just hate the Lakers as hate, right? Just, you don’t like ’em right now. … You need a helicopter — whatever you need, we can provide for you. So, just keep your — keep the options open is all I’m sayin’.”
The incident in question took place back on Jan. 20 of 2023. Not long after the buzzer sounded at the end of the second quarter, Sharpe could be seen shouting at the Grizzlies bench, and security had to separate him and Morant’s father Tee.
Full video of Shannon Sharpe going after Ja Morant’s dad
(Via @MirjamSwanson)pic.twitter.com/HifMgES738
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) January 21, 2023
The altercation fortunately had a happy ending, with Sharpe and the elder Morant hugging it out later that same night.
Shannon Sharpe and Tee Morant hug it out and all is good 🤝
(via @NikkiKaySN1)pic.twitter.com/2yA0sAVCHc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 21, 2023
Not long after the altercation, Sharpe claimed that it all stemmed from him telling former Grizzlies defensive ace Dillon Brooks that he wasn’t big enough to guard Lakers star LeBron James. Sharpe also alleged that he and Brooks threw expletives at one another.
He reflected on the incident more recently back in February of 2024 and cited it as “one of the worst moments” of his life, saying he was wrong for it.
Lakers fans can’t blame the younger Morant for not being all too fond of the team at the moment after what Los Angeles did to his Grizzlies in the opening round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Los Angeles eliminated the Grizzlies in six games despite the fact that Memphis finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
The younger Morant also hasn’t played in a playoff game since Memphis’ Game 6 loss to the Lakers, so perhaps the taste of that playoff defeat is still fresh in his mouth.
If the younger Morant were to join the Lakers anytime soon, his presence would help to keep Los Angeles as a relevant team, even after James retires. After all, he is just 25 years old and seemingly has many seasons of great basketball left in the tank. But right now, there’s no reason to believe that he’ll be wearing a Lakers uniform in the future.
Los Angeles will play the Grizzlies for a second time in the 2024-25 regular season on Nov. 13. The younger Morant and the Grizzlies came out on top in the first matchup between the pair of teams on Nov. 6, which was the final leg of a five-game road trip for the Lakers.
