Memphis Grizzlies veteran Derrick Rose gave his brutally honest thoughts on NBA superstar Ja Morant during an interview with ESPN.
Morant is set to make his season debut tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans after missing the first 25 games of the campaign due to a suspension.
“He’s a hardworking motherf—er. I know that,” Rose said about Morant. “I’m proud of him, very proud of him. Never complains. He’s there early, there after, at shootaround, practices. He’s doing everything the team wants him to do, and I’m just happy that he’s creating his own reality and his own bubble. You can just see it. You haven’t heard anything about him. And that’s a great thing.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ja Morant, Derrick Rose, Memphis Grizzlies Updates
Morant was issued a 25-game suspension in mid-June for posing with a gun in a livestream video on Instagram in May. The All-Star signed a five-year, $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension with the Grizzlies in July 2022.
Morant averaged 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 8.1 assists last season in 61 games for the Grizzlies, who have the third-worst record in the Western Conference this season. Memphis is only 6-19.
“A quagmire situation,” Rose told ESPN. “Just the whole thing that’s surrounding the team. I don’t need to say the whole thing, but yeah, when you have that and are missing guys, the Steve-O thing — I mean, come on, bro. Come on. You can’t make any excuses, know what I mean? The other team is not going to care. The league is not going to care, so it’s all about trying to pull together.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ja Morant, Derrick Rose, Memphis Grizzlies Updates
Rose is currently out with a hamstring injury. He will likely be Morant’s backup once he recovers from his injury. The former MVP is averaging 9.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Grizzlies this season.
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