Sports
Grizzlies’ Ja Morant gifts young fan gear after her autographed basketball was stolen
An 11-year-old Memphis Grizzlies fan had an thrilling night, days after her autographed basketball was reportedly stolen.
Grizzlies star Ja Morant gifted Ellie Hughes a pair of his game-worn sneakers and an autographed jersey following a 135-129 win over the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night time.
Ja Morant, #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies, autographs his sneakers for a fan after the sport towards the San Antonio Spurs on January 11, 2023, at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
(Joe Murphy/NBAE through Getty Photographs)
Hughes reportedly had her autographed basketball stolen Monday night time through the Grizzlies’ first recreation of a home-and-home sequence with San Antonio.
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The younger lady had been accumulating autographs of Grizzlies gamers on the basketball since she was 5 years previous, in keeping with Motion Information 5 in Memphis.
After listening to in regards to the incident, Morant reached out to the household and invited Hughes to Wednesday’s recreation, which is when he showered her with items.
“It’s one thing I just about like to do,” Morant stated of his heat gesture. “You contact any individual’s coronary heart like that. An enormous fan of the Grizzlies for years. It’s moments like that imply essentially the most to them. One thing they’ll always remember.”
Ja Morant, #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies, grabs a rebound through the first half towards the San Antonio Spurs at FedExForum on January 11, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee.
(Justin Ford/Getty Photographs)
Morant additionally placed on a present for Hughes through the recreation, scoring 38 factors on 14-25 capturing, including San Antonio large man Jakob Poeltl to a poster within the course of.
“He was enormous for us,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins stated of Morant. “When he will get to his spots, and he performs at that stage, it’s actually necessary to us.”
Ja Morant, #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies, is interviewed after the sport towards the San Antonio Spurs on January 11, 2023, at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
(Joe Murphy/NBAE through Getty Photographs)
Memphis improved to 28-13 with the win.
The Related Press contributed to this report.