Memphis Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks was fined $25,000 for skipping media responsibilities during the first round of the 2023 playoffs. Brooks left the arena without meeting with the media after three of the Grizzlies four losses to the Los Angeles Lakers.

NBA rules dictate that players must be made available to the media following playoff games. Brooks was roundly criticized for talking trash to LeBron James and the Lakers before the series began and before games, but then skipping out on meeting with the media following losses.

The Memphis Grizzlies were disappointed after their first-round series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Multiple Grizzlies expressed that they know they need to be better moving forward, including franchise player Ja Morant.

Morant took ownership of Memphis' shortcomings, starting with himself.

“I just got to be better with my decision-making. Off-the-court issues affected us as an organization," Morant said.

When asked a follow-up, Morant reiterated that making better decisions starts with him, as the team's leader.

“Like I said before, my (takeaways) are off the court and on the court. Just, being disciplined. Off the court, it’s about making better decisions. On the court, it’s about being locked in even more," Morant said. “Being the leader of the team, it starts with me. However I attack any situation, I know my guys will follow. I just have to be better in that area.”

Game 4 of the series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies averaged 4.26 million viewers on TNT.

The number, representing a 34% increase from last season, is also the third highest viewership on cable for the first round of the playoffs.

It was also the sixth highest viewership across all networks, with the Lakers-Grizzlies and Warriors-Kings combining for seven out of the top eight most-watched first-round games (Game 4 of the Warriors-Kings included the highest viewership of any first round game in 21 years).

The Bucks-Heat Game 4 averaged 3.5 million viewers, with all four games in the series declining from last year's equivalent window.

Dillon Brooks will be a free agent this offseason and his future with the Memphis Grizzlies is uncertain considering his liabilities on offense and the fact they sought out upgrades at small forward at the deadline. Brooks is a very effective defensive player, but he doesn't space the floor at the wing in a way to maximize the Memphis offense and has questionable shot selection.

The Grizzlies pursued trades at the deadline for Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.

"They tried to upgrade at the trade deadline," said Tim MacMahon on the Brian Windhorst Podcast. "They threw four picks at the Nets trying to get Mikal Bridges. They really weren't able to get the Raptors in serious conversations, but they would have given up a few picks to get OG Anuoby. They've tried to move on from Dillon Brooks already.

"I don't know if Dillon Brooks is on this team after this series. We'll see if the Grizzlies can comeback and win it. I certainly don't know if he's on this team after free agency this summer, but the problem is if he's not, who's guarding all the best players? All the stars on the other teams?"

MacMahon suggests the Grizzlies could reengage the Nets on a trade for Dorian Finney-Smith, who could be a more feasible trade target.

"If they're letting Dillon Brooks, they absolutely have to get a really, really, really good defensive wing player. They can let him go in free agency, they just have to figure out how to replace me. Trust me, they've put a lot of thought into that."

Memphis Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks will face no further punishment after being ejected from Game 3. Brooks was ejected after picking up a Flagrant 2 foul for a shot to the groin of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.

Brooks had previously stated that he wouldn't respect James until the Lakers star "dropped 40 on him". Brooks later clarified that he did respect James, but that he wasn't afraid of him. He also took the opportunity to call James "old", while suggesting that the NBA's all-time leading scorer isn't the player he once was.

For his part, James said those comments don't bother him. Following Brooks' ejection, James said he was “Just focusing on the game plan. There was a lot of game to be played when that incident happened. So just tried to get up, protect my crown jewels, and move on to the next play.”

Ja Morant is questionable for Game 3 on Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Morant, who missed Game 2 due to a sore right hand, was able to complete a full practice on Friday.

Taylor Jenkins said that Morant is doing "so much better than he was two days ago" but is still having some issues with the hand.

"It's just catching the ball he's having to navigate," added Jenkins.

The Grizzlies will make a decision on Morant's availability following Saturday's shootaround. 

Ja Morant will be a game-time decision for Game 2 of the Memphis Grizzlies' first round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

X-rays after the Grizzlies' loss in Game 1 on Sunday were negative. An MRI on Monday revealed an aggravation of soft-tissue bruising in Morant's hand. The injury was originally suffered on April 7th, but it was made worse when Morant used his right hand to break his fall after committing a charge against Anthony Davis.

"I do not sense a great deal of optimism around this Grizzlies team that Ja Morant will be ready to play in Game 2," said Adrian Wojnarowski.

Jaren Jackson Jr. has been named the 22-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson received 56 first place votes, 35 second place votes and six third place votes.

Jackson led the league with 3.0 blocks per game this season, after finishing fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season. 

Brook Lopez finished second with 31 first place votes, 47 second place votes and 13 third place votes.

Evan Mobley, Draymond Green and Bam Adebayo rounded out the top-5.

Ja Morant reinjured his right hand during Game 1 of the Memphis Grizzlies' first round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

There is "significant doubt" Morant will be available for Game 2.

Ja Morant is unsure if he will be able to play in Game 2 of the Memphis Grizzlies' first round series against the Los Angeles Lakers after re-injuring his right hand. Morant talked about how the injury is just the latest example of the adversity he's dealt with this season. Morant was suspended eight games by the NBA after flashing a gun at a nightclub. Morant has also been investigated for a number of other off the court incidents over the past year.

"[It is] tough, man, especially with everything I've been through pretty much this season," said Morant. "My main focus was to be out there for my guys. It's another incident where that's pretty much in jeopardy."

Morant received counseling at a Florida facility to help him manage stress following the gun incident.

"At this point, I'm not even surprised with how my life's been going," said Morant.

"I don't know, man. I'm just pretty much numb to everything now. It's like I'm not even surprised. It's one thing after another."