Shannon Sharpe and Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies were involved in an apparent on-court incident at Friday night’s game in Los Angeles.
Sharpe, the co-host of Fox Sports’ “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed,” was sitting courtside at the game but was briefly escorted by security after he allegedly yelled at the players and an incident ensued.
According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the altercation occurred after the final possession of the first half. Morant was walking off the pitch towards the locker room before stopping and turning to Sharpe.
His teammate Steven Adams intervened as the two approached Sharpe.
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Shannon Sharpe reacts after being pinned by Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies after a verbal altercation after the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on January 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
(Harry How/Getty Images)
Video of the incident appears to show others quickly got involved, including Morant’s father, Tee Morant, and a crowd of people formed in the area.
Security officers separated the group and the players went to the locker room before returning for the third quarter.
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ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that the incident may have initially started with Brooks, a forward who was guarding the Lakers’ LeBron James.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 20: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 20, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 20: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket on Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on January 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California .
(Harry How/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) fouls Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, on Friday, January 20, 2023.
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Sharpe joked that Brooks was “too small” to protect him.
“It started with Dillon Brooks. I said he was too small to protect LeBron,” Sharpe told ESPN.
“He said, ‘Fuck me,’ and I said, ‘Fuck you,'” she added. “He started coming up to me and I said, ‘You don’t want this trouble.’ Then Ja came out of nowhere.”
Sharpe continued: “I definitely didn’t want these problems. Then the father came along and obviously didn’t want any problems. But I wanted everything they had. Don’t let these fools fool you now.”
“They do all that talking and manipulating and I don’t mean all those manoeuvres,” Sharpe added.
An NFL Hall of Famer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time, Sharpe is over 6’2″ and bigger than most athletes on the court.
Other videos of the incident appear to confirm that Brooks yelled at Sharpe, who snapped back, pointing at the ground in front of him as if gesturing for him to come closer.
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Sharpe and Tee Morant were allowed to return to their seats for the third quarter.
The Grizzlies were up at halftime at Crypto.com Arena, 53-49, but ultimately lost to the Lakers 122-121.
A Lakers drive in the fourth quarter and a key steal by the Lakers’ Dennis Schroder sealed the win.
Morant had a team-high 22 points, Adams had 16, and Brooks had 9. Adams also had a game-high 17 rebounds.
On the other side of the court, James had 23 points and the Lakers were led in scoring by Russell Westbrook, who had 29.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 20: Shannon Sharpe is retrained by safety for Memphis Grizzlies #12 Ja Morant after a verbal altercation following the end of the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on January 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
(Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 20: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts as he walks to the bench during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on January 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
(Harry How/Getty Images)
Memphis has a 31-14 record, while the struggling Lakers are now 21-25.
