NBA lists come and go. Most spark a few quote tweets and a half-hearted debate on who is too high, too low, or who didn’t make it at all. But this one? This one had Ja Morant missing from Bleacher Report’s top 30 out of 100, and that was all it took.

The fallout was immediate, and soon, NBA insider Molly Morrison found herself at the center of it, stating after fans accused her company of disrespecting the Grizzlies star.

A single post from Bleacher Report directly on X saying, “Ja didn’t crack top 30 😬,” with the list’s link attached to it, worked up a chain reaction. Where did he land, though? Number 33, after notable names like Jalen Williams, Devin Booker, Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, and just right after Franz Wagner at number 32. Fans felt blindsided, and one industry figure publicly stepped back from the heat.

The reaction escalated when Molly Morrison, a media figure connected to the NBA ecosystem, reposted the item and added a clarification, which, well, felt more like damage control. She wrote, “MY OFFICIAL STATEMENT: my company’s views don’t reflect the view of me. i am taking this matter seriously. thank you for understanding.” The double hit of the snub, combined with the reposted statement, pushed the story beyond sports conversations into the PR space.

Fans pushed back hard, in their own words. The tone ran from dismissive annoyance to outright anger. Many argued the list undervalued Morant’s impact, while others accused the organization of judging him on headlines rather than what he does on the court. Some framed the post as disrespectful.

The volume of the blowback made the snub of Ja Morant feel less like an opinion and more like a remark to cause outrage. And well, that heat sits awkwardly next to Morant’s NBA achievements.

The 26-year-old is a franchise cornerstone. Last season, he averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while appearing in 50 regular-season games. He remains one of the league’s most explosive guards and a nightly highlight. But the context also matters here.

Earlier this year, Morrison herself posted an X post, writing, “The NBA is better when Ja Morant is healthy… most electrifying player in basketball.” And fairly enough, Morant’s availability has been a concern.

He suffered a left ankle sprain in preseason and missed all three preseason games. The Grizzlies enter the regular season short-handed, with Jaren Jackson Jr. and other rotation pieces remaining sidelined or limited. That fragility is also one of the factors feeding some of the public debate.

To critics, a player in recurrent rehab loses steam in subjective rankings. To defenders, injuries are not a measure of value, but an unfortunate variable in the bigger narrative. Morant, to his credit, has always been open about his loyalties, once even writing on X that, “Memphis is my home.”

Ja Morant’s reputation, and why the fans reacted

The timing of the social-media chaos matters. Voter lists and preseason rankings arrive during a moment of flux when rosters are shifting, injuries threaten, and narratives form instantly. That environment makes rankings unstable and fans emotional. For the Memphis Grizzlies, who finished 48–34 last season and fell early in the playoffs, the perceptions were raw.

A perceived snub of their best player reads like a dismissal of the team’s progress, doesn’t it? Molly’s repost and follow-up statement made the story institutional. By distancing her company from her repost and offering a measured response, she shifted the conversation from a single tweet to a matter of public relations.

Which, by the way, is a reminder that in the social era, every hot take can have real-world consequences, and that broadcasters and insiders are not immune to backlash.

From a front-office perspective, the list does not change the Memphis Grizzlies’ priorities. Ja Morant’s contract extension is finalized, and the team has publicly announced progress in his rehabilitation. Coach Tuomas Iisalo has described the updates as positive, while medical reports from the team highlight cautious optimism. The main focus now is for Morant to return and let his performance speak for itself, rather than relying on rankings.

This situation leaves fans with three key expectations: first, real-time updates on Morant’s health; second, a media cycle monitoring lists and rankings to see if voters recalibrate their opinions; and third, potential motivation for Morant to elevate his performance in response to perceived slights.

He has demonstrated this ability before, especially during playoffs and critical games. If he feels slighted by the rankings, it may drive him to deliver performances that make the list in question seem insignificant compared to his overall impact.

For now, the key takeaway is that Morant’s situation remains respectable. A simple social media post has evolved into a test of loyalty and influence. Ja Morant continues to be one of the league’s most electrifying players, and fans have made it clear that they disagree with anyone suggesting otherwise.

In the coming days, the box score will provide the most straightforward rebuttal of all.