Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has revealed that he and teammate Stephen Curry sensed something was off with Ja Morant even before the Memphis Grizzlies suspended him for conduct detrimental to the team.
Speaking on his podcast, Green recounted a conversation with Curry that took place after the Warriors’ recent win over the Grizzlies, in which Morant’s demeanor raised red flags.
“When we got on that plane, I was telling Steph, like, ‘Man, Ja ain’t in it at all,’” Green said. “It looked like something happened… like, it ain’t Ja. He was giving the ball to Cam Spencer and was kind of going to stand in the corner.”
According to Green, Curry responded with, “Quiet protest going on, huh?” A remark that both players interpreted as a subtle sign of internal tension between Morant and the Grizzlies organization.
Shortly after that game, the Grizzlies announced a one-game suspension for Morant, citing conduct detrimental to the team. The punishment followed a heated exchange between Morant and head coach Tuomas Iisalo after a loss to the Lakers, in which Morant reportedly criticized the coaching staff and refused to elaborate on his poor shooting performance.
Green said the suspension validated what he and Curry had already suspected: that Morant was disengaged and possibly protesting the team’s direction under its new leadership.
“It was clear to us something deeper was going on,” Green added. “You don’t see a player like Ja just go passive unless there’s a message behind it.”
Green also used the moment to highlight the importance of communication between players and organizations. He warned that unresolved tension can quickly spiral, especially when star players feel unheard or misrepresented.
“You’ve got to listen to your guys,” Green said. “Especially someone like Ja, who’s given everything to that franchise.”
