The Memphis Grizzlies’ first-round exit, punctuated by a shaky victory with a sidelined Ja Morant, has ignited a fierce off-court debate that overshadows the on-court action. Former NBA stars Lou Williams and Chandler Parsons offer diametrically opposed views on the root of Morant’s struggles, setting the stage for a potentially franchise-altering offseason in Memphis.

It was a rough ending to the Memphis Grizzlies’ season, crashing out in the first round after barely pulling a 117-115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. But even with the win, it didn’t feel like much of a victory. Ja Morant, the face of the franchise, couldn’t even hit the court. Instead, he was on the sidelines, just watching the action unfold.

Moving along, the energy around Morant throughout the season had always been electric, but something felt off during Game 4. When the cameras panned toward him, Morant wasn’t having any of it. He threw his hand over his face, trying to stay hidden, but the broadcast team wasn’t giving up that easily. They shifted angles, zoomed creatively, and managed to still keep a shot of the top of his head in the broadcast, making it even more awkward.

Now, after taking two Ls—first on the court and then trying to dodge the cameras—former NBA star Lou Williams thinks it’s time for a serious reset. “I feel like a change of scenery would be good for him, a different environment,” Williams said during Run It Back. According to Lou, the root of the problem isn’t just Morant’s form; it’s Memphis itself dragging him down.

To explain, Lou didn’t hold back when talking about his hometown. “I come from Memphis, Tennessee. I know what it’s like to play there,” he said. “We are a violent city. There’s no sugar coating way around it. We grit and grind. That’s the environment in Memphis.” And that weight, Lou believes, wears on you heavily.

Wrapping it up, Lou feels Morant knows exactly what he’s dealing with. “Maybe he understands that, and he’s a part of it every day and it’s affecting the way that he go about business,” Lou explained, before adding that, “maybe somewhere else with a fresh start will be beneficial to Ja Morant.” Still, not everyone on the panel agreed—his co-hosts pointed out that maybe it’s not the city, but Ja himself.

Not Memphis City, Ja Morant is the problem, claims Chandler Parsons

Chandler Parsons didn’t hold back when talking about Ja Morant’s struggles. “What’s so disappointing is it’s never really been about basketball,” Parsons said during the same show. Though Morant’s numbers dipped slightly this season, Parsons pointed out, “you wouldn’t want your starting point guard putting up 23 and seven, something’s going on.” Like Lou Williams hinted, Parsons believes the real issue is deeper, adding, “he’s not happy in the end, he’s lashing out.”

But Parsons made it clear he’s not blaming the city. Instead, he feels the Grizzlies should think seriously about their future without Morant. “If I’m the Grizzlies, I do consider a serious look this summer to get off this dude, because that’s not my franchise player,” he said.

Interestingly, Parsons has been vocal about Morant before. An ESPN report in April even quoted an anonymous GM claiming Morant couldn’t lead a team to a title—and Parsons agreed.

“Put your name on it, for starters,” Parsons said during another Run It Back episode, “this anonymous little ghost is also right. Ja Morant is 7-12 in the playoffs.” While he believes Morant is “awesome” and “electric,” Parsons also pointed out that Morant would need serious help from his supporting cast to win it all.

Finally, even though Morant avoided off-court trouble this season and put up 22.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, doubts still linger. Parsons admitted, “He’s the best player,” but warned that in the long run, Jaren Jackson Jr. might end up having the better career. As for what’s next for Ja? We’ll just have to wait and see.

The contrasting opinions of Lou Williams and Chandler Parsons ignite a crucial question mark over Ja Morant’s future in Memphis. Is a change of scenery the lifeline he needs, or is the issue a deeper, internal struggle? The Grizzlies face a high-stakes offseason, their decision on Morant poised to send shockwaves through the league.