Ja Morant’s father, Tee Morant, was removed from the arena during the final moments of the Memphis Grizzlies’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which ended in a 125-112 defeat for the Grizzlies.

According to crew chief Josh Tiven, complaints from Tee Morant included “overtly disrespectful statements regarding the integrity of the officiating crew.” Tiven approached security about the situation, leading to Tee Morant’s removal from his courtside seat with just 2:10 remaining on the clock, while the Thunder led 122-107.

Following the game, Ja Morant commented on his father’s ejection, saying, “He probably got kicked out, so I didn’t,” suggesting it was related to complaints made toward the referees.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was asked whether he or any of his players had requested Tee Morant’s removal but responded, “Not to my knowledge. No.” Ja Morant contributed 16 points to the game, making six of 19 shots and adding seven assists.

Ja Morant also noted he sensed tension with the officials, indicating that one of them appeared upset when he addressed them with a question, although he chose not to elaborate further. This incident is not the first of its kind for Morant’s entourage; in a prior event during a January 2023 game, his friend Davonte Pack was banned from attending games for a year after confronting players from the Indiana Pacers while seated along the sidelines.