Richard Jefferson sparks debate with Ja Morant all-time Grizzlies claim

The Memphis Grizzlies just endured a rough 2025-26 season, falling way short of expectations and deciding to rebuild instead after trading Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline. One would think that Ja Morant is not long for the team, especially with the Grizzlies looking like they’re going to hit the reset button even further come offseason time.

Morant, however, was available for trade for most of the 2025-26 campaign, and the Grizzlies weren’t able to find a taker. The mercurial point guard’s value appears to be at its nadir, and there’s no surprise as to why; he put up the least efficient scoring season of his career, recording 19.5 points per game on a career-worst 52.1 percent true shooting (career-low 41.0 percent FG and 23.5 percent 3PT).

Nevertheless, this should not change the overall view of Morant’s legacy with the Grizzlies in Richard Jefferson’s opinion. In fact, the former NBA champion thinks that Morant remains the biggest superstar the team has had from a grander perspective.

“Ja Morant is the biggest superstar they’ve ever had. Inside of Memphis, he is the biggest superstar. He has his own shoe with Nike. Rookie of the Year, he was Most Improved Player. He is the most famous guy to ever play for their franchise in that space. And that’s all respect to Pau Gasol,” Jefferson said on the latest episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast.

Jefferson did not forget to honor the Grizzlies who came before Morant. But it’s not like those players were big superstars across the association. Morant, for all his faults, is a known superstar across the globe, and the Grizzlies’ former stars aren’t.

“If you ask me I the last 20 years, like I love the grit and grind group. Zach Randolph, that’s my dude, like Tony Allen, so much respect. Marc Gasol, Mike Conley one of the great dudes in the league. So much respect for them,” Jefferson added. “

The post Richard Jefferson sparks debate with Ja Morant all-time Grizzlies claim appeared first on ClutchPoints.