Calkins: Ja Morant is still ‘the most famous’ Grizzly. But Sunday may have been the end.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stands on the sideline in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Memphis. (Brandon Dill/AP)
Geoff Calkins
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. He is host of "The Geoff Calkins Show" from 9-11 a.m. M-F on 92.9 FM. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.
With five minutes and 27 seconds left in the first quarter of Sunday’s game between the Grizzlies and the Brooklyn Nets, a video of Cedric Coward played on the big screen.
It was a bit called “rookie reporter,” brought to you by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Two kids posed questions to Coward. The last question was: “Who’s the most famous person on your phone?”
Coward laughed a small laugh.
“The most famous person on my phone is probably Ja Morant.”
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
Ja Morant Memphis Grizzlies Zach Kleiman NBA Subscriber OnlyThank you for being a subscriber to The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization with a hybrid business model, we rely on a mix of revenue from subscriptions (50%), advertising, events and miscellaneous earned income (25%) and fundraising (25%).
Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian today.
👉 Your subscription pays for you to read all our journalism.
👉 Your donation powers the work we do to reach everyone else with the news.
We believe an informed Memphis is a better Memphis. If you agree, join our growing list of donors now.
Geoff Calkins on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Geoff Calkins' stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Related stories
Grizzlies will entertain trade offers for Ja Morant, per ESPN
Should the Grizzlies make a trade, they will seek draft picks and young players in return, Shams Charania reported.
Hill: It’s no secret how the Grizzlies and Ja Morant got to this point
In September, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman said the high-end outcomes needed Ja Morant to play at an All-NBA level. Thirty-seven games into the season, Morant has played 18 times and is averaging career lows in several categories. Grizzlies coach talks basketball, not trades Grizzlies will entertain trade offers for Ja Morant, per ESPNRelated content:
Herrington: Why is a Ja Morant trade now possible? Follow the money — and three seasons of disappointment.
What’s seemingly broken up Ja Morant’s future with the Grizzlies? It wasn’t a gusher of off-court problems but a slow drip of on-court problems — and the pressures of money and time.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.