Ja Morant didn’t log a single minute on the floor at Crypto.com Arena, but he still managed to draw plenty of attention from the NBA fans with his off-court antics.
Sidelined for the Grizzlies’ matchup against the Lakers, Morant missed his 15th game of the season in Memphis’ 120–114 loss. While he couldn’t impact the game between the lines, he still found a way to grab attention when cameras caught him giving LeBron James a brief back rub during live action.
NBA fans didn’t waste time jumping on the moment.
@BrickMuseNBA cracked a joke that referenced Morant’s past, posting, “Ja Morant went from “shooters” to “masseuse” real quick. bro is auditioning for the lakers medical staff mid-possession. have some dignity and play defense instead of rubbing another man’s back. nasty work”
Ja Morant went from “shooters” to “masseuse” real quick. bro is auditioning for the lakers medical staff mid-possession. have some dignity and play defense instead of rubbing another man’s back. nasty work. 🤡🚔📉
— Brick Muse 🧱 (@BrickMuseNBA) January 5, 2026
@NoseBleedsSport saw it differently, writing, “He tryna steal his powers.”
@SunderousDunks leaned into the mind games, saying, “That’s Dillon Brooks type villainry.”
Without Morant available, the Lakers’ stars handled business. Luka Dončić led the way with 36 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while LeBron added 26 points and 10 assists as Los Angeles picked up its second win over Memphis in three days.
“That efficiency screams ‘gave it his all’”: NBA fans react to Ja Morant’s 40-point night against the 76ers
Just days earlier, Morant reminded fans what Memphis looks like when he’s on the floor.
Before the calendar flipped, the two-time All-Star poured in 40 points against the Philadelphia 76ers, nearly dragging the Grizzlies to a win before falling 139–136 in overtime. Despite the loss, fans praised Morant’s effort as trade chatter continues to swirl around the franchise.
@NoBanksNearby highlighted the efficiency: “16-22 fgm for 40 points in a loss, that efficiency screams ‘gave it his all.’ wild output.”
16-22 fgm for 40 points in a loss, that efficiency screams ‘gave it his all.’ wild output. 🔥
— NoBanks Nearby 👉 apple.co/4otr5L2 (@NoBanksNearby) December 31, 2025
@DogeKilluminati kept it simple: “ja cooked fr even in the L baller status.”
@VideonistX added, “Ja is absolutely carrying right now.”
The performance marked Morant’s 10th 40-point game of his career — another reminder that when he’s available, the Grizzlies’ offense still runs through him, whether fans love the spotlight or not.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
