Grizzlies' Ja Morant, On Criticism: 'i Feel Like I've Been The Villain For The Last Two Years Now'

It was the sort of moment that Ja Morant craves. He hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer to lift the Memphis Grizzlies past the Miami Heat, then skipped down the court listening to the silence he created.

He was the villain. And he doesn't mind.

"I feel like I've been the villain for the last two years now," Morant said. "Not even just to this crowd."

Morant has certainly spent plenty of time in that role. His ability to take over games was on display Thursday night the game-winner capped a 30-point night and helped Memphis snap a four-game losing streak. That could have been the story.

It wasn't. At least, not the whole story.