The Memphis Grizzlies have built a pretty extreme reputation for themselves. Thanks to months of trash-talking and an over-abundance of confidence, Memphis has been classified by many fans as a squad in desperate need of veteran leadership.
As great as Ja Morant has been, he has allowed a culture of confidence and swagger to suffocate his team and they’ve become largely unliked across the league.
Over the All-Star break, this reputation was once again exposed — and this time, it was by Pelicans star Zion Williamson. In a chat with the media, he tagged Memphis as the biggest trash-talkers in basketball.
“I’d have to say the entire Memphis Grizzlies team,” said Zion. “They do it in like a collective way, you can’t help but respect it.”
In our NBA player poll, we asked players who the best trash-talker in the league is.
Zion Williamson couldn’t narrow it down to one player.
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It isn’t just Ja who does the talking. Everyone from Jaren Jackson Jr. to Dillon Brooks, and even Desmond Bane has developed a knack for stirring things up. Williamson apparently respects their attitude as a team, but not everyone is a fan of the way the Grizzlies have conducted themselves recently.
Are The Grizzlies The Most Hated Team In Basketball?
Being confident, fearless, and loud as a basketball team isn’t usually a problem for the fans. In fact, teams like that often spark the best storylines during the season.
The problem for the Grizzlies, however, is that they haven’t yet backed up their words. They lost to the Warriors in the Western Semi-Finals last year and weren’t really a contender before that.
“They were talking about dynasty and all of that. You can’t talk dynasty when you haven’t won before,” said Warriors star Klay Thompson after a Christmas Day win over the Grizzlies. “I thought that was premature talk. I don’t think people realize how hard that is. The commitment, the sacrifice, the faith. I thought that was premature talk. They bring the best out of us and I think they do the same, and if you don’t like them, you gotta respect them because they’re a threat.”
On the court, the Grizzlies cannot be denied. With Morant, JJJ, Bane, Steven Adams, and others, they have a fantastic roster with quality talent from top to bottom.
But if they fail to make a deep run this season, the Griz are going to find it tough to keep their bad-boy act going for much longer.
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