Tempers appeared to flare during Friday night’s game in Los Angeles between the Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies. While Memphis, which took a 53-49 lead into the half, tried to make their way into the locker room, it appeared that Steven Adams and Tee Morant got into a shouting match with former NFL tight end and current Fox Sports personality, Shannon Sharpe.
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. pic.twitter.com/EtMiSDY3sv
— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson) January 21, 2023
Tee Morant and Shannon Sharpe have to be separated at halftime of Lakers vs. Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/eh01loYXKJ
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) January 21, 2023
More of the verbal confrontation between Tee Morant & Shannon Sharpe pic.twitter.com/6f3uPRqVQE
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) January 21, 2023
The above videos show that Sharpe repeatedly said “I bet you won’t.” According to Mike Breen, who is broadcasting the game for ESPN, one of Adams’ teammates, Dillon Brooks, started chirping at Sharpe, which appeared to upset the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. Adams went right over to Sharpe as this happened, which led to a number of folks rushing over to try and keep the peace.
ESPN video of Shannon and the Grizz + Tee Morant pic.twitter.com/wSbKc1jLz1
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) January 21, 2023
Sharpe went on to confirm that things started with Brooks but escalated from there.
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: pic.twitter.com/XZNw6sQhEG
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 21, 2023
“My blood pressure didn’t go up a bit, nothing but love for Shannon Sharpe,” said Mark Jackson of a conversation he had with Tee Morant.
Friday night’s game is the first of three meetings between the Lakers and the Grizzlies this season. The two sides will play again in Memphis on Feb. 28, while they’ll return to Los Angeles for their final matchup with one another during the regular season on March 7.
