FS1 host and legendary NFL player Shannon Sharpe had to be restrained by security at Friday's Lakers-Grizzlies game in Los Angeles over a verbal confrontation with Memphis players at halftime of LA's thrilling 122-121 win.
Sharpe was seen shouting at Grizzlies veteran Dillon Brooks as players headed toward the locker rooms. Memphis center Steven Adams appeared to take offense and confronted the 54-year-old Sharpe, who refused to back down. Meanwhile, Grizzlies staffers tried in vain to hold back the 6-foot-11, 265-pound Adams.
Furthermore, Grizzlies star Ja Morant and his father, Tee, were involved in the incident, which never turned physical.
'They didn't want this smoke,' Sharpe told ESPN's Dave McMenamin before returning to his seat for the third quarter. 'They do all that talking and jockeying and I ain't about that jockeying.'
FS1 host and former NFL player Shannon Sharpe had to be restrained by security at Friday's Lakers-Grizzlies game in LA after a verbal confrontation with Memphis players at halftime
Sharpe was seen chirping with Grizzlies veteran Dillon Brooks as players headed toward the locker rooms. Memphis center Steven Adams appeared to take offense and confronted the 54-year-old Sharpe, who refused to back down
Sharpe, a 6-foot-2 former Denver Broncos tight end, blamed the incident on Brooks.
'It started with Dillon Brooks,' he told McMenamin. '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 to problems. But I wanted anything they had. Don't let these fools fool you now.'
Sharpe is a big fan of James, as he routinely reminds his viewers on FS1.
Shannon Sharpe (circled) claimed Memphis players did not want to fight the 54-year-old former NFL tight end. (Right) Grizzlies center Steven Adams walks away alongside teammate Ja Morant after the altercation
Sharpe (circled) blamed the incident on Brooks. 'It started with Dillon Brooks. I said he was too small to guard LeBron. He said, ''F***'' me. I said, ''F***'' you back'
Sharpe says he told Dillon Brooks (right) that he's too small, at 6-foot-7, to guard the 6-foot-9 LeBron James (left), which allegedly ignited the confrontation in LA on Friday night
ESPN announcer and former NBA star Mark Jackson described the incident as the broadcast returned from halftime.
'Steven Adams comes over to protect his guy, along with his supporting cast,' Jackson said. 'Then, Shannon Sharpe, still talking. And Tee Morant, Ja Morant's dad, comes over. [I] had a opportunity to talk to Tee Morant. He said: ''My blood pressure didn't go up a bit. Nothing but love and respect for Shannon Sharpe.''
'Just a bunch of guys talking a bunch of trash,' Jackson concluded.
Play-by-play announcer Mike Breen added: 'Just silly for it to get like that here.'
Later, Tee Morant and and Sharpe were seen hugging and smiling on the court.
There is some history between Sharpe and the Grizzlies, stemming from comments the Pro Football Hall of Famer made about the younger Morant on his FS1 show, 'Undisputed.'
'The last time the Grizz made a Western Conference Finals, Ja Morant was 13,' Sharpe said last month. 'Did I miss something… Bruh, y'all not good. Y'all not like that. Y'all ain't got Shaq, don't got Kobe, you don't got a Tim Duncan.'
Tee Morant, the father of Grizzlies star, Ja, said there is no issue between him and Sharpe
