Watch: Shannon Sharpe's fight with Memphis Grizzlies at courtside during LA Lakers game
Shannon Sharpe is one of the LA Lakers’ most popular and passionate supporters. He is also a huge fan and follower of LeBron James and has defended the superstar in many of his debates against Skip Bayless.
In tonight's game between the Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena, the former NFL superstar grabbed the limelight. He and Tee Morant, Ja Morant's father, had to be separated at halftime after what appeared to be a heated exchange.
Tempers flare in the front row here at the Crypt — where Shannon Sharpe, Steven Adams and Papa Tee Morant exchange words and have to be kept apart before heading off in opposite directions. https://t.co/EtMiSDY3sv
In an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Shannon Sharpe had this to say:
“They didn’t want this smoke, Dave. They do all the talking and jockeying and I ain’t about that jockeying. It started with Dillon Brooks. I said he was too small to guard LeBron [James]. He said, ‘F**k’ me. I said, ‘F**k you,’ back. He started to come at me and I said, ‘You don’t want these problems.’
“And then Ja [Morant] came out of nowhere talking. He definitely didn’t want these problems. Then the dad came and he obviously didn’t want no problems. But I wanted anything they had. Don’t let these fools fool you now.”
Shannon Sharpe spent halftime in the tunnel with security before returning to his seat for the third quarter. He granted ESPN a brief interview explaining what happened with the Grizzlies on his way to his seat: https://t.co/XZNw6sQhEG
During the commotion, Memphis Grizzlies players Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams also wanted to confront the former Denver Broncos tight end. Adams visibly stepped in front of the superstar point guard and looked like he was ready to put his hands on Sharpe.
Adams had to be held back by officials who quickly acted before things got out of hand. Shannon Sharpe, though, seemed oblivious to Adams as his attention was squarely on Tee Morant.
Ja Morant's dad, however, later made amends, saying he had "nothing but love" for Sharpe.
Shannon Sharpe 🤝🏾 Tee Morant
(h/t @TrustSwisho ) https://t.co/Ap19LrR39C
Shannon Sharpe watched the LA Lakers steal the game from the Memphis Grizzlies
The LA Lakers desperately tried to keep up with the Ja Morant-led Memphis Grizzlies. Anthony Davis, who could return next week, Austin Reaves and Lonnie Walker were all unavailable for tonight's game.
Shannon Sharpe watched LeBron James struggle, making just 8-21 field goal attempts while going 1-5 from behind the arc. But with Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder playing inspired ball, the Lakers refused to wilt.
It looked over when the Grizzlies pushed their lead to 114-107 with 2:58 left in the game. "King James" looked gassed, and it didn't seem like the Lakers could pull off the comeback.
But the Lakers kept fighting, even desperately resorting to a hack-a-Memphis strategy. They just kept crawling back every time the Memphis Grizzlies tried to break away.
Shannon Sharpe must have cringed in his seat when his idol launched a 25-footer that missed with the Grizzlies holding a 118-115 lead. Fortunately for the Lakers, Russell Westbrook came up with a big rebound and made a follow-up shot to cut the lead to one.
Dennis Schroder's HUGE swipe-away & tough and-1 wins it for the @Lakers! twitter.com/NBA/status/161… https://t.co/MRmOAAJ7Kj
From there, the Lakers' poise and composure brought them home. Dennis Schroder stole the ball from Desmond Bane and posted a three-point play to hand the Lakers the lead, 121-120.
Two possessions later, the Grizzlies still had a chance to tie the game at 122 all as Brandon Clarke was sent to the free-throw line. He only made one to hand the win to the LA Lakers.