A weird scene performed out halfway by means of the Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers sport on Friday evening when FS1 speaking head (and former NFL broad receiver) Shannon Sharpe received right into a courtside shouting match with Grizzlies gamers and Tee Morant, the daddy of Memphis star Ja Morant. Safety and the referees ultimately broke up the scuffle and Sharpe returned to his seat after halftime.
It isn’t day by day you see a TV sports activities commentator begin a struggle with a complete NBA crew, however that’s apparently what occurred. The fracas began after Sharpe mentioned he instructed Grizzlies ahead Dillon Brooks that he was too small to protect Lakers star LeBron James. Abruptly Morant’s father received concerned, and Sharpe needed to be separated from indignant Grizzlies gamers.
Right here’s video of the incident captured by TV cameras:
Ja Morant additionally instructed Sharpe “sit your ass down” simply earlier than halftime. Right here’s video of the scene from inside the sector detailed by reporters protecting the sport:
Absolute insanity. Shannon Sharpe was speaking to Ja Morant, then Steven Adams walked over in entrance of Ja Morant. Tee Morant and Shannon Sharpe then had phrases earlier than Sharpe was escalated off the ground. pic.twitter.com/iIpOnxDPiH
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) January 21, 2023
Tempers flare within the entrance row right here on the Crypt — the place Shannon Sharpe, Steven Adams and Papa Tee Morant alternate phrases and must be saved aside earlier than heading off in reverse instructions. pic.twitter.com/EtMiSDY3sv
— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson) January 21, 2023
Sharpe defined his facet of the story to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. It positive appears like Sharpe picked a struggle with the Grizzlies to defend LeBron. Sharpe is understood for his LeBron fandom on his TV present “Undisputed” — the place he debates sports activities matters alongside long-time James critic Skip Bayless.
Right here’s Sharpe’s full, unimaginable quote on what began the shouting match with the Grizzlies:
Shannon Sharpe spent halftime within the tunnel with safety earlier than returning to his seat for the third quarter. He granted ESPN a short interview explaining what occurred with the Grizzlies on his strategy to his seat: pic.twitter.com/XZNw6sQhEG
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 21, 2023
That is how the beat reporters within the area initially detailed what was taking place:
Solely within the NBA: Proper after the second quarter buzzer sounded, Ja Morant’s father, Tee Morant, received right into a shouting match with former NFL participant and present Fox Sports activities commentator Shannon Sharpe. Referees and safety intervened.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 21, 2023
Shannon Sharpe mentioned one thing that received the entire Grizzlies bench to cost at him moments after intermission. Safety needed to step in. Sharpe simply walked into the locker room tunnel with a number of safety guards.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) January 21, 2023
The Grizzlies by no means again down from a verbal problem. Sharpe by no means hesitates to defend James’ honor. This scene is so on-brand for either side that it’s comical.
We’ll replace this story because it develops.
