Nine games. That’s all that was left in this NBA season when the Memphis Grizzlies decided to fire head coach Taylor Jenkins. Shocking? Maybe. But for those who’ve been closely following the team, not so much. This news has sparked plenty of debate, with theories flying left and right. And now, Carmelo Anthony has jumped into the conversation, dropping a wild take that has everyone talking.

On a recent episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, Carmelo Anthony broke down what’s happening with the Grizzlies this season. The Grizzlies have long centered their strategy around Ja Morant. He’s been the driving force behind their success. But things took a turn in November when Ja missed eight straight games due to a hip injury. Under Taylor Jenkins, the team adjusted their approach, one that didn’t work. They went from holding the second seed last season to now barely hanging on at eighth.

Carmelo didn’t hold back, saying: “Now All-Star break comes, and after the break, Ja is back, s–t ain’t going right.” According to Carmelo, the real issue was the coaching staff’s failure to adapt. Even after Ja’s return, the Grizzlies kept playing the way they did in his absence. And that, he believes, is the reason for their downfall. Ja Morant was suddenly playing a “secondary role” instead of leading the team like before.

Reports emerged from The Athletic that Morant was unhappy with the team’s new offensive system, which emphasized off-ball movement and reduced his role as the primary ball handler. So, firing Taylor Jenkins might have been their way of keeping him locked in.

Although there’s no official statement from the team yet, Carmelo Anthony seems to have hinted at the real reason behind the move. Looking ahead to the playoffs, he said, “I think it’s a situation that they had to nip in the butt before it gets messy.”

Memphis made their choice: Ja Morant over Taylor Jenkins. But if history teaches you anything, it’s that midseason coaching changes rarely lead to deep runs. If this gamble fails, the Grizzlies may have more than just a coaching problem on their hands.

Carmelo Anthony Has High Praise for Ja Morant

It wasn’t just Ja Morant who was frustrated with the Grizzlies’ new approach, Carmelo Anthony wasn’t happy either. If you watched the past few games of Memphis, then you must have noticed that  Ja wasn’t getting the ball as much as before. And when you take the wheel away from your best driver, the whole ride falls apart.

Carmelo called it out bluntly: “Nah, come on man! Get the ball back to Ja… He is effective with the ball in his hand, he has been effective with the ball in his hand, and that’s what he is always going to be.”

Ja and Melo faced off nine times before Anthony retired in 2022, with Ja holding a slight 5-4 edge in their matchups. Clearly, Melo respects his game, otherwise, he wouldn’t have said: “People forgetting about Ja… When Ja gets that moment, he ain’t giving it back.”

Now, the big question is Will this coaching change turn things around, or is it just another failed experiment? Either way, one thing is clear, Ja Morant isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.