Grizzlies' Ja Morant Draws Major Criticism for New Controversial Celebration

The Memphis Grizzlies have had a very strange season, and yet, they are still one of the more fascinating teams entering the NBA playoffs. Memphis has dealt with some injuries to its core this year, and they have seen their head coach be fired weeks before the postseason.

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However, this team has continued to fight, and will be a tough out come playoff time if they are right. But one thing continues to get in their way, and that is the behavior from star guard Ja Morant.

Morant is a special talent on the court, but his unwillingness to learn from past mistakes continues to haunt this Grizzlies team. The guard has been criticized for celebrations, using different weaponized metaphors.

In the team's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, Morant was seen making what looked like another grenade celebration.

Morant pushed back on the criticism and said he was keeping the celebration.

"That's my celebration now until somebody else has a problem with it, and I'll find another one," Morant said, via the Associated Press.

But after the game, Morant tried to clarify that the celebration isn't what everyone thinks. The Grizzlies star explained that it's his words being thrown out to the world instead of how it has been perceived.

"Listen, it's not what you think it is. I'm taking my words, and I'm throwing them out there. I'm speaking Ja. I'm being Ja. I'm going to take my words, I'm going to throw them out there, and then I'm going to block out the noise. And that's what I'm doing. So when you see me do that, that's what I'm doing. I'm saying what I got to say to the world, and I'm blocking out the noise in the midst of what's coming back my way. And that's how it's going to be."

No matter what his reasoning is, it's a bad look for Morant and the Grizzlies. Morant is the leader of this team, and many people have called him out for his excessive celebrations in the past.

With the postseason approaching, Morant will need to keep his emotions in check to avoid any silly technical fouls coming his way. The Grizzlies need him if they are going to make any sort of run this season.

This team has all the tools to make something happen, but they will need full focus from their star. Memphis currently holds a record of 47-33 for the year, and they sit in the No. 7 spot of the Western Conference standings.

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