Losing a game is one thing. But to lose by a 51-point deficit? Geez! Brutal. No one knew what was on their mind. A record? Seemed that was the idea: to hit the deep bed of the sea. Sadly, this was the Memphis Grizzlies‘ reality after Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Game 1 of their 7-game playoff series ended on a disastrous 80-131 result for Ja Morant and Co. Surely, this isn’t how he would’ve liked things to unfold. However, more than his gameplay, there was something that the cameras picked up and the fans noticed.

What do you do when you lose a game? Sit with your head swinging low in disappointment, no smiles, only regret. But Ja is different; he’s always been different, isn’t he? So, instead of doing any of the above, the 25-year-old sat on the bench smiling. With his signature dreadlocks not tied up, he was all smiles and laughter. And this just doesn’t seem to sit well among the fans.

Meanwhile, Brandon Clarke’s injury left a glaring hole in Memphis’ frontcourt depth. In turn, Marvin Bagley III, once on the sidelines, has stepped up with a timely impact. Now, as the Grizzlies adjust, Bagley quietly emerges as Clarke’s unexpected yet fitting stand-in. Therefore, interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo informed that the Grizzlies might have found a solution for the Clarke minutes with Bagley’s recent play.

Now, coming back to Ja Morant, the main guy of the Grizzlies, smiling after a 17-point, 26-minute game that they lost so terribly. How could he do that? Therefore, these NBA fanatics took to social media to call out Morant’s ‘questionable’ gesture.

Fans blast Ja Morant for smiling after blowout defeat against OKC in Game 1

“What Ja Morant smiling about?” someone asked on X. Well, that remains a mystery for now. Could it be that someone cracked an odd joke amidst the heat of the game? You know, somewhat like a comedic relief in the middle of a tragedy? We surely have to wait for Ja to spill the beans.

Another fan didn’t keep things subtle: “Damn Grizzlies getting their a– blown by like 50 points and Ja is on the bench smiling?” After a 51-point loss, it only seems natural for the fans to spew out their anger. Memphis’s defense crashed terribly before the first seed of the West. And the results came in as a heartbreaking loss that has given them a 0-1 setback.

Meanwhile, someone commented: “This is the WORST NBA game I’ve ever seen. The only one who’s enjoying it is Ja. bro, why r u out there smiling, man? 😭😭😭” Worst game doesn’t seem like an exaggeration, however, there is always scope for comebacks. Six games are yet to unfold! Meanwhile, Morant responded to the humiliating loss. He declared, “We will never play that bad again.” So, maybe this is why he was smiling; who knows?

“Ja on the bench smiling and laughing like his team not down 80 points in the playoffs,” someone wrote. Do you feel he isn’t aware? Surely not! He topped the Grizzlies’ scoring with 17 points, while Marvin Bagley matched that total coming off the bench. Meanwhile, the rest of Morant’s starting lineup failed to hit double figures. The Thunder were dominant from the first touch; they took a 32-point lead in the first half, leaving no room for Morant & Co. to bounce back.

So, while the Grizzlies took a brutal 51-point beating and fans lost their cool, Ja Morant sat courtside, flashing a grin that stirred the pot. Meanwhile, Marvin Bagley quietly turned heads, stepping into Clarke’s shoes with purpose. Sure, Game 1 was a nightmare, but with six more battles to go, who knows? Maybe that smile was just the calm before a wild Memphis storm.