In a matchup that has quickly become one of the NBA’s hottest rivalries, the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies delivered another night of intense competition and trash talk. During the second quarter, LeBron James scored on Ja Morant and followed it up by taunting him with a “too small” gesture. The moment exploded online, racking up over 70,000 views and 2,000 likes within minutes.
LeBron calls Ja Morant too small. 😤
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 7, 2024
This isn’t the first time tensions have flared between these two teams. Last season, the Lakers and Grizzlies had multiple fiery encounters, largely fueled by then-Grizzlies player Dillon Brooks’ relentless trash talk. Their heated playoff series ended with the Lakers knocking Memphis out in six games after the Grizzlies were hindered by injuries to key players. Since then, each game between them feels personal, and tonight’s exchange between LeBron and Morant shows that the rivalry hasn’t cooled one bit.
Things got heated between the Lakers and Grizzlies 😳 pic.twitter.com/ZBcF02qK24
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 15, 2023
These types of rivalries are part of what make the NBA so exciting. When two teams genuinely don’t like each other, it adds an extra layer of intensity and motivation. For the Grizzlies, who are entering the new season with something to prove, moments like this could fuel their fire even more as they look to bounce back and challenge the league’s best.
