The Memphis Grizzlies are having some problems. After losing 10 of their last 13 games the locker room has players pitted against each other as they try to solve their own problems. Shams Charania of the Athletic reported that Omri Casspi and Garrett Temple escalated a post-game locker room discussion into a full on physical altercation.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ emotional team meeting after loss to Detroit tonight turned physical in an altercation between veterans Garrett Temple and Omri Casspi in locker room
Garrett Temple commented on the situation today to ESPN. Temple referred to Casspi as his “brother” and focused his comments on moving on from what had happened saying the conflict is “squshed. “At the end of the day, we came out of that meeting … on the same page and we’re moving on from it,” Temple told reporters. “At the end of the day we’re brothers. We’ve known each other since we were rookies.” Omri Casspi was less clear about his thoughts on the situation stating only that all were frustrated by the situation but that it should “stay in the locker room.”
General Manager Chris Wallace took the time to apologize to fans and to address the situation head on. The “incident” was unfortunate, he said, but punishment for the players involved will be handled internally.
This was a busy day for Chris Wallace as he followed up his comments today with a Memphis trade with Chicago as reported Thursday night. The trade may be related to Memphis’ locker room problems or may have been a move planned and discussed for weeks, but when putting all the pieces together it’s clear that the organization is trying to find creative solutions to their issues both on and off the court. As Wallace, Temple, and Casspi all remember that they are working towards the same ultimate goals, the city of Memphis watches in anticipation for the hopeful surge in team success.
