The NBA playoffs have arrived, with the first play-in games tipping off on Tuesday night. With that in mind, ESPN is increasing its coverage around the league. Part of this increased coverage means bringing in guests to the Network to provide analysis.
Guest analyst was the capacity in which NBA player Marcus Morris appeared on First Take on Tuesday morning. However, it’s not likely that Morris will be invited back by the network anytime soon.
“I really like the Grizzlies. The YNs, they’re really coming to play,” Marcus said on air.
Marcus Morris has some praise for the Grizzlies that probably hasn't been heard elsewhere on ESPN airwaves.
"I really like the Grizzlies. The YNs, they're really coming to play." pic.twitter.com/AusexESvtz
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 15, 2025
YN stands for “young n-word,” something that ESPN executives almost assuredly would prefer people to stay away from on airwaves. Fans reacted to Morris’s mistake on social media.
“I like having former or current athletes in media….But not all of them need a spot just bc they used to play,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Only imagining what would happen if Tim Legler said something similar to this,” another fan added.
“I hate social media sometimes because now this is gonna blow up to the point where every race and creed is gonna try to co-op the term YNs and twist it to God knows what lol smh. I heard it in the moment but didn’t want it to become viral for various reasons,” someone else added.
It’ll be interesting to see if Morris faces consequences for this.
