Ja Morant Not Backing Down From Controversial Western Conference Comment

• Ja Morant has doubled down on his controversial 'I'm fine in the West' remark
• The Memphis Grizzlies star's comment backfired with the team in a bad place
• The Grizzles are slowly becoming one of the most hated teams in the league

Memphis Grizzlies All-Star, Ja Morant is not backtracking on his controversial 'I'm fine in the West' comment despite his team's terrible run in 2023.

Morant and the Grizzlies are slowly becoming the most hated team in the NBA, due to his comments and Dillon Brooks's instigating attitude last season and several times this term.

Despite all that talking, the Grizzlies are among the best teams in the NBA. They have the sixth-best record in the league and the second-best in the Western Conference. Therefore, they have somehow backed up their defiance.

However, that comment may come to haunt Morant, or maybe it was premature. They lost in the West semi-finals last season to eventual NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors and things may be tough again this year, according to CBS Sports.

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The Phoenix Suns have added future Hall of Famer, Kevin Durant while the Dallas Mavericks have added All-Star, Kyrie Irving to pair with Luka Doncic.

The Los Angeles Lakers have improved their roster significantly. Although the Warriors are struggling now, they are a sleeping giant that can't be written off. The Grizzlies are 34-22 for the season and 16-16 in the West.

Morant on his controversial remark

On Sunday, they were beaten 109-119 by a short-handed Boston Celtics team without Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon. Jayson Tatum struggled throughout the game and the Grizzlies could not steal a win at TD Garden.

They are 3-9 in their last 12 games, yet Morant is sticking with his comments even after adding Durant and Irving to the West.

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“I don’t care, honestly. I said what I said, and I mean that,” Morant said. “The confidence I had when I said that is the confidence that got us to the point we’re at now, being a top team in this league," he said via Boston.com.

Morant may be defiant, but Dallas and Phoenix are creeping behind Memphis in the standings. Although fans blasted the 23-year-old, another Grizzlies star personifies that comment.

Brooks has stolen the headlines for many reasons this season. Whether it is jawing with NFL Hall of Famer, Shannon Sharpe or hitting Donovan Mitchell in the groin area, Brooks's reputation as an instigator has risen quickly.

Fans are waiting to see if the Grizzlies will back up their talk in the playoffs.

Morant accuses NBA of 'hating'

Sports Brief earlier reported on Morant accusing the NBA of hating on the Grizzlies after Brooks was ejected for hitting Cleveland Cavaliers' Mitchell in the groin area.

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The All-Star said they don't have any problem with the shooting guard, any player or any NBA team, and don't understand why the NBA is targeting them.

"Anything when it comes to negative about the Grizzlies, we normally, you know, get the punishment. It ain't the same. They [the NBA] hate us. We don't got no history with nobody. We don't beef with nobody."