The NBA is gifting fans a Warriors and Grizzlies Christmas Day matchup, adding fuel to the growing rivalry.
“We got what we wanted dray,” Morant Tweeted to the four-time champion.
we got what we wanted dray. 😤 @Money23Green https://t.co/fsJPffUBii pic.twitter.com/ti8PAdtMyC
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) August 13, 2022
The announcement comes after it was recently reported that the Grizzlies were using Green as motivation in their weight room.
Jaren Jackson Jr. revealed in a TikTok video that the Grizzlies posted the Green quote, “Memphis is going to get their reality check.”
The bad beef between the two teams started last season during the Western Conference Semifinals, which the Warriors won 4 to 2.
The series was marred by each team accusing the other of “breaking the code” with hard fouls.
After the Warriors defeated the Celtics for the title, the barbs between Golden State and Memphis started up again.
In an interview with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks, star guard Ja Morant claimed that Memphis lives “rent free” in the defending champions’ heads after Klay Thompson referred to a tweet by Jackson following the Warriors’ 2022 NBA Finals win.
Green responded to Morant’s comments in his podcast.
“Now, talking s–t to the team that won a championship after they beat you after they win a championship is an entirely different level of oblivion,” he said on the Draymond Green Show. “It doesn’t get much more oblivious than that. And I think for them, you’re now going to be expected to do that. You’re now going to be expected to win these games. And it’s not as easy when teams are coming for you.”
This new rivalry between the veteran champs and young and talented Grizzlies can only help NBA ratings.
The 2022 Finals viewership was up 22 percent from last year and the most watched in three years.
Still, the 12.4 million viewers who tuned in to watch the Warriors and Celtics were far below the 20.38 million who watched Golden State defeat Cleveland in 2017.
