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Rising Tensions: Lakers and Grizzlies Gear Up for Heated Rematch

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LeBron James, Ja Morant, Los Angeles, Memphis, basketball

Business Honor
14 November, 2024

LeBron James and Ja Morant head into another high-stakes matchup as rivalry between Lakers and Grizzlies intensifies.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies are set for a charged rematch Wednesday night, rekindling a rivalry that has been simmering since their heated playoff clash in 2023. With tensions still palpable, this second regular-season meeting promises to deliver fireworks on the court, even as Memphis star Ja Morant will be sidelined due to injury.

Their animosity predates last season's postseason theatrics, as LeBron James and Memphis guard Desmond Bane went at it in a heated exchange during January 2022. James famously told Bane, "That's your last time disrespecting me." The fight really heated up during the 2023 playoffs, however, as the Lakers bounced the Grizzlies out of the postseason in a hotly contested six-game series. Perhaps the game's most memorable play came in the third quarter when forward for the Grizzlies Dillon Brooks took to trash talking James, only to see the star of the Lakers respond and lead his team to a final victory with a bunch of trash talk of his own.

The two teams clashed once more in a November 6 contest, with Memphis dishing up Los Angeles a 131-114 defeat. Grizzlies star Ja Morant was seen celebrating as if his skills were "too small" after he had found the basket over Gabe Vincent. However, James immediately reciprocated on the next drive, and later, Morant took to social media to troll James with a GIF that flashed an "L" on the screen.

Bane also took an opportunity to throw a little jab at James's way in a post-game interview as he was talking about a great defensive play by former Lakers guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and jokingly referred to James as "that old man."

While Morant hasn't been too shy about his disdain for the Lakers, making references to both a playoff loss in 2023 and a regular-season defeat the preceding season, James did not perceive much of significance in the constant jostling back-and-forth insults. To him, it is just more of the old-school "smack talk" that has always defined the game.

With Morant out this week, the rivalry takes a brief pause, but this growing clash between two Western Conference contenders promises to keep fans on edge for the remainder of the season.