"Angry Penny is a scary Penny": Memphis HC Hardaway channels inner Ja Morant after Tigers' win over North Texas 

NBA's point guard Ja Morant, has faced challenges over the past two seasons. Last year, his time on the court was cut drastically short to just nine games due to a 25-game suspension followed by a season-ending shoulder injury. These setbacks raised concerns about his availability, which was a crucial factor for the Memphis Grizzlies' success.

Meanwhile, Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway gave a candid perspective on leadership during the post-game press conference after the Tigers' 68-64 win over North Texas on Sunday. When asked to reflect on Ja Morant’s preseason statement:

“A happy Ja is a scary Ja.”

Hardaway was quick to draw a parallel to his approach, saying:

“Well, an angry Penny is a scary Penny. It’s just, to me, it just pushes the right buttons. You got to push these guys because in this era, there’s so much complacency." [4:00- 4:58]

He also said:

"So much entitlement. You got to put your foot down because they’ll just think, oh, it’s just going to be easy. So we can foresee what’s going to happen. When you watch film as much as I do, you can tell when a team is going to bother your team because everybody’s so laid back and chill.

"I knew this was going to be a tough game. And for me, an angry Penny is going to make sure that we get the job done no matter what. And we did today.”

This season, Morant has avoided major injuries but has still struggled to stay consistent. He has participated in only 20 of the Grizzlies’ 36 games so far. His latest setback, a right AC joint sprain, has kept him off the court for the last four games. Despite his absence, the Grizzlies have managed to maintain a 22-13 record, placing them No. 3 in the Western Conference standings, narrowly trailing the No. 2 Houston Rockets (23-12).

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Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins gives a positive update on Ja Morant's condition

Before Memphis’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors, coach Taylor Jenkins shared an optimistic update on Ja Morant’s condition. Speaking to Marc Spears of Andscape, Jenkins stated:

“He is progressing well to get back on the court.”

While the update did not offer specifics, it confirmed that Morant had encountered no setbacks in his recovery process. Still, the team has felt his absence, going 1-3 over the last four games.

Ja Morant’s absence has also highlighted the Grizzlies’ ability to adapt and compete without their star player. Memphis is eager for his return as they push to solidify their position in a competitive Western Conference. Despite Morant’s unavailability, the Grizzlies have shown resilience throughout the season, with their strong overall record of 22-13.