Desmond Bane Reacts to Ja Morant's Decision During NBA Playoffs
Desmond Bane and the Orlando Magic are on the verge of a massive upset in the NBA playoffs.
The No. 8 Magic defeated the No. 1 Detroit Pistons on Monday in Game 4, 94-88. This gives Orlando a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round series.
Bane led the way for the Magic on Monday, registering a team-high 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting. The 6-foot-6 guard also added five rebounds, one assist, a steal and five three-pointers in 37 minutes of action.
Bane turned in a strong performance in front of a capacity crowd inside Kia Center. Among the tens of thousands of fans in attendance was his former Memphis Grizzlies teammate, Ja Morant.
This is Bane's first season in Orlando. He spent the first five years of his career in Memphis, playing alongside Morant.
The two-time All-Star decided to make the trip to Orlando for Monday's game along with his fellow Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. The duo was in the building to support their former teammate.
Bane expressed his gratitude to Morant after the win. The Magic star also thanked Jackson as he discussed his relationship with his ex-teammates.
"It's special," Bane said during his post-game press conference. "Those are guys that I spent five years with… It's a friendship that'll last forever… I'm thankful that they pulled up to support."
Desmond Bane on Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. being at his game tonight:
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 28, 2026
"It's special. Those are guys that I spent 5 years with… It's a friendship that'll last forever… I'm thankful that they pulled up to support." pic.twitter.com/bWD925FQfB
Bane parted ways with the Grizzlies last summer. Memphis sent him to Orlando along with a 2026 first-round pick. In exchange, the Grizzlies received Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and four first-round picks.
Much like Bane, Morant's tenure with the Grizzlies could also come to an end soon. He was the subject of multiple trade rumors prior to the midseason deadline. However, nothing came to fruition, and he is still a member of the Grizzlies - at least for now.
Bane and the Magic return to action on Wednesday. The series will shift back to Detroit for Game 5, with Orlando just one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Related: Ja Morant Makes Decision Away From NBA After Grizzlies Season
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 6:03 AM.