Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant misses out on $39 million after not making All-NBA teams
A day after the Memphis Grizzlies celebrated two players being named to the All-Defensive team, All-NBA news wasn't as promising.
Despite Grizzlies stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. both making the NBA All-Star team, neither player was selected for one of the 15 spots on the three All-NBA teams for the 2022-23 season. The results were announced live on TNT ahead of Wednesday's New York Knicks-Miami Heat game.
Jackson was a longshot to make one of the three All-NBA teams despite winning the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award and earning First-Team All-Defense honors. Morant made the All-NBA second team last year, but he fell short this season as part of a crowded group of guards.
The decision is a costly one for Morant. He signed an extension last offseason that came with a super-max trigger if he made an All-NBA team this season. Before the season, Morant expressed his desire to earn the contract bonus. Now that he didn't make an All-NBA team, his max extension will take up 25% of the Grizzlies' cap space instead of 30%, which is a difference of a little more than $39 million over five seasons.
A lot of talk was centered around Morant's All-NBA case not just because of the contractual important, but also his troubles off the floor. Morant was suspended eight games this season for conduct detrimental to the team after brandishing a gun at a Colorado nightclub.
Morant was remorseful with his actions in the aftermath, but league voters submitted their ballots around a month after his incident. That combined with a crowded group of talented guards hurt Morant's chances.
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant misses out on $39 million after not making All-NBA teams
