Buckley: Ja Morant has company in ‘dat 901.’ Tiger coaches join Memphis defense team.
Memphis Tigers football coach Ryan Silverfield at Owners Box Sports Grill in Lakeland June 17, 2025. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian)
Tim Buckley
Tim is a veteran sportswriter who graduated from CBHS in Memphis and the University of Missouri. He previously covered LSU sports in Baton Rouge, and the University of Louisiana football and basketball for The Daily Advertiser/USA TODAY Network in Lafayette, the NBA’s Utah Jazz for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning for the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, and West Texas State basketball for the Amarillo Globe News in Texas.
Ja Morant isn’t the only one defending Memphis.
On the same day ESPN blabbermouth Stephen A. Smith took a shot at the city, saying some in NBA circles “don’t feel like it’s the safest environment,” Memphis Grizzlies star Morant – amid swirling trade chatter – proudly proclaimed on X that “ima be in dat 901.”
The apparent unstated message: Morant has no desire to leave Memphis.
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Memphis Tigers Memphis Tigers Football Ryan Silverfield Brooks Monaghan Richard Mulrooney Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
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