The Memphis Grizzlies were looking like possible dark-horse championship contenders in the NBA’s Western Conference as recently as January, but now they may be losing their cool.
Star guard Ja Morant has been suspended by the league for eight games after an incident in which he toted a gun at a Colorado nightclub during an Instagram Live.
Then on Wednesday, forward Dillon Brooks shoved a cameraman during a game against the Miami Heat, which resulted in an injury.
Here’s the clip of Dillon Brooks shoving a camera person at the Grizzlies vs Heat game on Wednesday. Local media outlets report the photographer was injured and remains under evaluation. The NBA fined Brooks $35,000, do you think that’s enough? pic.twitter.com/AGdo6FBXDg
— Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) March 17, 2023
Brooks was assessed a $35,000 fine, but fans feel Brooks didn’t receive enough discipline.
If it was Grayson Allen there would’ve been a suspension plus a fine. The @nba is starting to turn a blind eye to a lot of dude antics! And yes 35k for a guy who is a habitual line stepper is turning a blind eye. It’s saying “let me shut these people up!”
— Eric Culberson Jr (@ECULB) March 18, 2023
Lock him up! pic.twitter.com/v3FpNPPNK9
— r/Warriors 🏆 (@GSWReddit) March 18, 2023
Should be suspended don’t you think ?
— Steven 🏆🏆🏆🏆… (@stevenkat17) March 17, 2023
No dude needs to be suspended the rest of the year that’s assault. He would be jail if he wasn’t a athlete.
— john (@john30479589) March 18, 2023
As a team, the Grizzlies are a very chippy outfit, and this fan feels there is little substance behind all of their antics.
The entire Grizzly organization seems to think they’re tougher than they are.
— . . . (@SuburbianYoda) March 17, 2023
This isn’t exactly the first incident Brooks has been involved in.
In last year’s Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors, he committed a flagrant 2 foul by hitting Gary Payton II in the head, causing the guard to fracture his left elbow.
Brooks was given a one-game suspension as a result.
In January during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fox Sports 1 personality Shannon Sharpe, who was sitting near the court, told Brooks he couldn’t guard LeBron James, and a melee ensued.
Then just a few weeks later, the forward punched Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell in the groin, earning him another flagrant 2 foul and a one-game suspension.
The Grizzlies appear to have a bright future, but they will not realize their full potential unless they develop some emotional maturity.
NEXT:
Ja Morant Makes His Thoughts Clear About Returning To The NBA
