WATCH: Shannon Sharpe escorted off floor at Lakers game after exchanging words with Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Shannon Sharpe is known for his sometimes controversial takes on the Skip and Shannon: Undisputed program, but a Friday night fracas at the Los Angeles Lakers game seemed to put quite a bit in dispute.
According to ESPN Dave McMenamin, right as the second quarter buzzer sounded Ja Morant‘s father, Tee Morant, got into a verbal altercation with Sharpe, the FOX TV personality.
It quickly threatened to turn physical as several Memphis Grizzlies players joined the fray.
It was later revealed that Sharpe initially exchanged words with Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks before Ja Morant and Steven Adams stepped in. You can see video of the incident below.
The altercation didn’t appear to be overly physical outside of a little pushing and shoving, and arena security were on hand to help settle the situation relatively quickly.
After Shannon Sharpe was escorted out following the small scuffle. He then granted a brief interview to ESPN, via McMenamin.
“They didn’t want this smoke, Dave,” Sharpe told McMenamin. “They do all that talking and jockeying and I ain’t about that jockeying. It all started with Dillon Brooks. I said he was too small to guard LeBron. He said, ‘F—‘ me. I said, ‘F—‘ you back. He started to come at me and I said, ‘You don’t want these problems.
“And then Ja came out of nowhere talking. He definitely didn’t want these problems. Then the dad came and he obviously didn’t want no problems. But I wanted anything they had. Don’t let these fools fool you now.”
According to senior NBA insider for TNT Chris Haynes, Tee Morant said he and Shannon Sharpe “are good” and he has “nothing but love for him,” as Friday night’s incident was just two guys from the south talking trash and supporting their teams.
Sharpe and Morant were both allowed to return to their seats as play resumed in the third quarter.
More about Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He had a wildly successful career, first with the Denver Broncos and then briefly with the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion, a four-time first-team All-Pro selection, a one-time second-team All-Pro selection and an eight-time Pro Bowler.
Sharpe was also named to the NFL’s 1990 All-Decade Team, is in the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame and his No. 2 jersey at Savannah State is retired.