Buckley: Ja Morant has company in ‘dat 901.’ Tiger coaches join Memphis defense team.
Memphis Tigers football coach Ryan Silverfield at Owners Box Sports Grill in Lakeland June 17, 2025. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian)
Tim Buckley
Tim is a veteran sportswriter who graduated from CBHS in Memphis and the University of Missouri. He previously covered LSU sports in Baton Rouge, and the University of Louisiana football and basketball for The Daily Advertiser/USA TODAY Network in Lafayette, the NBA’s Utah Jazz for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning for the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, and West Texas State basketball for the Amarillo Globe News in Texas.
Ja Morant isn’t the only one defending Memphis.
On the same day ESPN blabbermouth Stephen A. Smith took a shot at the city, saying some in NBA circles “don’t feel like it’s the safest environment,” Memphis Grizzlies star Morant – amid swirling trade chatter – proudly proclaimed on X that “ima be in dat 901.”
The apparent unstated message: Morant has no desire to leave Memphis.
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
Memphis Tigers Memphis Tigers Football Ryan Silverfield Brooks Monaghan Richard Mulrooney Subscriber Only2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.
Will you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news? Make a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian, a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization, today.
Thank you for keeping up with what’s happening in Memphis. Thank you for investing in our community’s trusted local news source.
Related stories
Memphis homicides down 25% in 2024
2024 also marked the lowest number of homicides in the city since 2019.
Here’s how Memphis’ crime — and what we spend to combat it — compares to other cities
More police spending does not always equate to lower crime rates. Memphis and Atlanta spend almost the same on police per person per year but have seen vastly different results.
Memphians ‘too hard on themselves,’ city crime consultant says
In his first interview since he came to Memphis last year, public safety consultant Fausto Pichardo said citizens should expect a further reduction in violent crime as the the police department builds cases against gang members.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.