An unexpected political moment briefly interrupted the pregame ceremonies Sunday before an NBA matchup in London between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic.
As singer and actress Vanessa Williams performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of tipoff, a heckler shouted “leave Greenland alone” from the stands, referencing recent comments by United States President Donald Trump regarding the Arctic territory. The outburst came during a quiet portion of the anthem and was clearly audible inside the arena.
Earlier in the week, Trump reiterated his belief that the United States should control Greenland, a semiautonomous territory that belongs to NATO ally Denmark, stating that anything short of U.S. ownership would be “unacceptable.” The comments sparked international debate and drew renewed attention during the London game when the heckler chose to voice opposition during the anthem.
The event went on despite the tension
The interruption drew scattered laughter and applause from the crowd, but the moment did not derail the ceremony. Williams remained composed and continued singing without acknowledging the disruption, finishing the anthem as planned.
The game proceeded without further incident, but the brief protest underscored how global political issues can surface even in international sporting events, particularly when United States teams and symbols are involved on a world stage.
And let’s not forget that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played mostly in American territory this Summer, as 48 nations from all around the world will battle for one of the most popular sports titles in the world. The home team wil face Paraguay, Australia and a team still to be defined.
A big statement from Ja Morant
Ja Morant wasted little time reminding everyone of his impact on the Memphis Grizzlies. Returning from a six-game absence due to a right calf injury, Morant delivered 24 points and 13 assists as the Grizzlies defeated the Orlando Magic 126-109 on Sunday in London. Even with a minutes restriction in place, the two-time All-Star controlled the tempo, created consistent scoring opportunities and provided the spark Memphis had been missing.
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said the signs were encouraging after Morant practiced with the team the day before the game and received a positive medical update. Iisalo acknowledged that expectations were tempered given the time Morant had missed, noting that jumping immediately into heavy minutes after an injury is rarely realistic. Despite that, Morant’s influence was clear from the opening stretch.
His return came at a critical moment for Memphis. The victory over Orlando was just the Grizzlies‘ third win in their last 10 games, and Morant‘s presence stabilized an offense that had struggled during his absence. His ability to push the pace and set up teammates helped Memphis pull away in the second half and close out the game comfortably.
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