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“Ja Morant, Come Out Here to Taiwan”: Dwight Howard Urges Problematic Nike Star to Ditch Grizzlies Amidst Gun Controversy

Tonoy Sengupta
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"Ja Morant, Come Out Here to Taiwan": Dwight Howard Urges Problematic Nike Star to Ditch Grizzlies Amidst Gun Controversy

Ja Morant just can’t stay out of trouble. After long having struggled with gun and misconduct incidents throughout the 2022-23 NBA season, Morant finds himself in the boiling pot yet again. And as you may know already, it is due to guns all over again. But apparently, all Dwight Howard sees is a tortured soul that needs to be saved. So, through Twitter, the former Lakers center decided to offer a laughably deceptive helping hand.

Ja Morant’s earlier controversial incidents include him displaying a gun on his Instagram Live while he was drunk at a strip club in Denver, allegedly assaulting a high-school child during a pick-up game, and even pointing a laser at the Pacers’ bus after threatening to shoot them.

Still, given that he is one of the NBA’s few superstars, Commissioner of the League, Adam Silver let the 23-year-old off with nothing more than an 8-game suspension at the time. The only further action taken was forcing Morant to attend a 10-day rehabilitation program. So frankly, it’s hardly shocking the man has committed a misdemeanor yet again.

That said, what’s Dwight Howard’s remedy?

Dwight Howard invites Ja Morant to Taiwan

In case you aren’t sure how Ja Morant found a way to embroil himself in controversy again, you will find all the answers in the tweet posted by James Burnes below.

Due to this, Morant was handed an indefinite suspension from all basketball activities by the Memphis Grizzlies.

As you’d expect, the entire world is collectively calling him stupid at the moment. Even the few former NBA players that stuck up for him last time are reluctant to come to his defense on this occasion. However, Dwight Howard apparently doesn’t care. Instead, he tweeted this out in response to the whole gun controversy.

Aye Ja (Morant) you gone get it right ! I’m still with you if anyone else ain’t you could come out here to Taiwan if anything…”

Dwight Howard has been in Taiwan for quite some time now, playing for the Taoyuan Leopards. So far, the former NBA player and champion seems to be pretty happy about his situation… but he does seem to be getting a bit lonely. After all, he previously invited Chris Paul to join him offshore. And now, it’s Ja Morant.

That said, Howard is a smart man. Who knows if this is his way of reminding Morant how lucky he really is to play in the NBA… and how it may not last forever. Especially if he keeps up with this behavior. And frankly, we couldn’t agree more.

That said, it appears that his behavior somehow still hasn’t affected his endorsement deals just yet.

Nike has not taken its deal with Ja Morant back just yet

Ja Morant is currently on a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike, due to which he is getting paid $12 million. He even has his own signature line with the company, an honor that very few people across the world can boast of having. However, after his recent behavior, many wonder if the deal still stands.

As we mention in this article, Ja Morant’s deal with Nike and other endorsements with companies such as Powerade still stand. That said, it is unknown whether the brands are considering redacting their deals with the Grizzlies star.

Knowing the world today though, if Morant can’t come up with any changes in his behavior, his being in Taiwan with no endorsements is not a matter of ‘if’. Only ‘when’.

About the author

Tonoy Sengupta

Tonoy Sengupta

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Tonoy Sengupta is a Senior Editor at The SportsRush. Coming from an athletically inclined family, he has been surrounded by sports ever since he was 4 years old. But, while initially pouring all his time into Football (soccer), at 14, Tonoy discovered basketball through the countless highlights of Stephen Curry humiliating players from Curry Land. And just like that, a fiery passion for the game was ignited within Tonoy. And soon after, he decided to become a student of journalism, graduating in 2022, and choosing sports as his area of interest. Today, you can find him spending 99% of his time browsing through every type of content on every team in the NBA, before uncorking everything he has found to the world. In the 1% he isn't doing this, you can find him playing Basketball, Football, Volleyball, or practically any other sport he has had the opportunity to learn.

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