Morant: I am a very loyal person, and the team crest tattoo on my back says it all.

Despite the rampant trade rumors, Ja Morant reiterated his loyalty to the Memphis Grizzlies.

In an NBA regular season game played in London, England on Sunday night, 26-year-old Ja Morant scored 24 points, 5 rebounds, 13 assists, and 1 steal, leading the Grizzlies to a 126-109 victory over the Orlando Magic. After the game, in an interview, he stated clearly, "I'm a very loyal person. I have the Grizzlies logo tattooed on my back, which should say it all."

Ja Morant's statement is undoubtedly a response to the recent trade rumors surrounding him. Earlier this month, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Memphis Grizzlies had put Morant on the trading block. They hoped to acquire some young players and draft picks in exchange, with the Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, and several other teams considered potential buyers.

However, the latest news seems to contradict Shams's report. According to ESPN reporters Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst on Friday, teams across the league are actually showing relatively lukewarm interest in acquiring Morant. The Heat's interest in Morant is also considered to have been overhyped, and they have no intention of taking on any star player's massive contract before the 2027/28 season.

As for Morant himself, reports indicate he is "deeply disappointed" by the ongoing trade rumors. According to Yahoo Sports reporter Kelly Iko, Morant has never requested a trade and remains committed to the Grizzlies and their fans.

As the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, Morant has played 325 regular season games for the Grizzlies, averaging 22.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, and has been selected to the NBA All-Star team twice (2022, 2023). He has also played 22 playoff games, averaging 26.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

Affected by a calf injury and suspension, Morant has only played 18 games this season. During this period, he delivered an impressive performance, averaging 19.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, with a field goal percentage of 40.1% and a three-point percentage of 20.8%.