NBA fans couldn’t resist poking fun at Ja Morant after leaked audio captured his trash talk exchange with LeBron James.

During the Memphis Grizzlies’ game against the LA Lakers at the FedEx Forum, Morant, despite being sidelined with a shoulder injury, was notably animated. The severely depleted Grizzlies, missing 13 players, nearly clinched an upset victory in their 123-120 loss to the Lakers.

In a video shared by renowned internet lip reader @LegendZ on X, Morant engaged in a spirited exchange of trash talk directed at “The King,” LeBron James. Morant even playfully cautioned the four-time MVP to wait for their next encounter when Morant would be in uniform next season. James, appreciating Morant’s energy, was seen sharing laughs with the Grizzlies superstar after a bit of physical interaction on the sidelines.

While the banter added an entertaining twist to the game, it underscored the divergent paths of the two teams as they head into the postseason. The Lakers are gearing up for the NBA Play-In Tournament, while the Grizzlies, plagued by a season marred by injuries, are preparing for an early offseason.

NBA fans on Instagram, where part of the video was uploaded, reacted to Ja Morant’s trash talk on LeBron James.

Some even brought up Drake’s recent diss on the Memphis Grizzlies superstar in the track called “Drop & Give Me 50,” alluding to both of their connections to Johanna Leia and Brooklyn Nikole.

Others just plain mocked Morant for his audacity to talk trash despite being suspended and injured for most of the season. Here are some of the best comments:

NBA fans comment on Ja Morant's trash talk.More comments about Morant's trash talk.

What happened to Ja Morant this season?

Ja Morant started the season away from Memphis Grizzlies games, as he was suspended for the first 25 games. The league punished Morant after a second gun incident that has tarnished his reputation.

Morant returned to the Grizzlies on Dec. 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans. He looked phenomenal, leading Memphis to a comeback win and hitting the game-winning layup. The Grizzlies had a winning record with Morant in the lineup until he suffered a shoulder injury in practice after just nine games played.

The 24-year-old superstar was diagnosed with a torn labrum and underwent season-ending surgery. He’s expected to be fully healthy at the start of next season and will be available as long as he doesn’t get into any gun trouble again.