Grizzlies' Ja Morant fires back at Stephen A. Smith's claim NBA players avoid Memphis due to safety issues

Nick Wright joins Colin Cowherd to break down the Indiana Pacers’ chances against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. Do the Pacers have enough firepower to keep up with OKC’s dynamic squad?

Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant fired back at Stephen A. Smith’s claim that NBA players don't want to join Morant's squad because they don’t feel safe in the city. 

During Tuesday’s edition of "First Take," the panel, which included Smith and NBA brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris, discussed whether the Grizzlies should trade Morant and do a full rebuild after dealing Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. 

Marcus Morris was asked why players don’t want to be in Memphis, and Smith responded. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant walks off the court during the second half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)

"The people in Memphis, it’s a great sports town — great fans, great people — but there’s an element there where cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel like it’s the safest environment," Smith explained, via Front Office Sports. 

"I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis. You’ve got to clean some of that stuff up because it’s dissuasive to NBA players. They have talked about it. I know. They’ve told me. That’s all I’m saying." 

Morant didn’t respond directly to Smith, but he gave his take on the situation. 

EX-NBA STARS CALL OUT JA MORANT OVER GRENADE CELEBRATION

"talkin bout the grizz more than the finals [laughing emoji] wit these [cap emoji] ahh sources," Morant posted on X. "instead of focusing on the performances we seen from jdub/shai, tj/Siakam, how this series is going. We say sumn