Toward the end of Tuesday night’s game between the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies, Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant sealed the win and snubbed a kid in a Warriors jersey who was looking to high-five Morant. After the game, Morant kept it real and explained that it was “disrespectful to have that jersey on” but was willing to send them a Grizzlies jersey so they can fully cheer for the home team.
For the record, I’m with Morant on this but I also realize that some people are going to have a problem with a pro athlete not high-fiving a kid for something like this, even if Morant was willing to send a jersey their way. The Grizzlies probably realized that too and turned a potential negative into a positive with their latest promotion.
Called “New Year, New Jerseys,” kids 12 and under can exchange any opposing player NBA jersey for a Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr. replica jersey and receive a pair of tickets for Thursday night’s Timberwolves game. Limited to the first 250 kids, jerseys that wind up being collected will be donated to charity.
Morant and the Grizzlies are making it clear, there are consequences if you wear a visiting team jersey in their house, regardless of your age. But if you’re a kid and are willing to switch your allegiances to the home team, they’re willing to help you out.
[NBA]