Wednesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies also featured an internal battle of bravado between NBA stars LeBron James and Ja Morant. The franchise leaders went head-to-head with highlight plays featuring physicality, and taunts, prompting James to discuss the matchup after the game.

The game saw both NBA stars showcase their competitive fire, even as the Lakers ultimately fell 131-114 in a frustrating loss. James finished the game with 39 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Morant contributed 20 points in his team’s victory.

Before the end of the final buzzer, Morant made a shot on Lakers backup guard Gabe Vincent, drawing a shooting foul and giving him a “too small” gesture to fire up the crowd. With the Lakers trailing by seven in the second quarter, James found himself in a one-on-one matchup with Morant on the right block.

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The four-time NBA champion used his physical advantage at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds to back down the 6-foot-2 Morant, who he has a 76-pound edge over, to easily finish the basket around the rim. James hovered over Morant, who fell to the ground from the force of the play and delivered his own “too small” gesture in response. Morant drove to the rim to make a contested layup just minutes later, purposefully bumping into James and drawing a technical foul in the process.

Morant was seen pumping himself and his teammates up to rally the home crowd. He signaled to the home city crowd that he wouldn’t be intimidated, no matter the size difference between himself and who he’s guarding.

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick was angered by his team’s lack of consistency and focus. He critiqued D’Angelo Russell’s performance before prematurely storming out of the post-game press conference. James was more poised during his media interaction, during which he explained the back and forth with Morant.

“The inspiration that he gives to the younger generation alone is what’s huge for our league. It’s great that this happened to happen, for sure,” said James. “Two guys from the inner city that love to compete. We all grew up playing on a blacktop, playing outside and competing at a high level. There was no cameras around. There was a bunch of —- talking while I’m playing the game. That’s what the essence of the game is all about.”

Morant’s post-game reaction was less timid, saying, “I don’t back down from nobody. I don’t care who you are. I got the bucket and set the tone. My teammates fed off of it and you seen what happened,” he said. “[James is] the top dog in our league. If you take out the top dog, who else do you fear? I don’t fear anyone anyways.”

The Grizzles guard explained his disdain for the Lakers, saying, “I don’t like them,” after Los Angeles defeated Memphis 4-2 in the Western Conference for the first round of the playoffs in 2023. Historically, the Lakers and Grizzles have faced each other in 107 regular-season games, with Los Angeles winning 66 of the encounters.