Ja Morant finds himself in a similar situation as two months ago when the league suspended him for flashing a gun on social media. The Grizzlies superstar repeated his mistake after apologizing to the organization and the fans. The NBA world is rightfully disappointed by his actions, and NBA great Shaquille O’Neal is even refusing to give him any advice.
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Months after receiving his first suspension, which kept him out for eight games during the 2022-23 regular season, Ja Morant was seen in an Instagram Live flashing a gun yet again. The video was recorded by his friend in a car while they seemed to be having a jolly good time.
As expected, Shaq was not happy with his actions and gave strong opinions on ‘NBA on TNT’. He followed it up with his comments on the radio show ‘The Rich Eisen Show‘. Here is what he said after the co-host asked about his advice to Ja Morant:
“Nothing at all. We know the rules, we know the unwritten rules. Remember, a mistake and a choice are two different things. You made a choice to turn on your IG live. Forget what you were doing, you made a choice to turn on your IG live with your shirt off at a strip club, and then your friend made a choice the other day to turn on IG live.”
He also shared a piece of advice he received from his mother when he got into trouble during his playing days.
Shaquille O’Neal shares advice from his mother
Back when he first entered the NBA, O’Neal himself had a bit of a wild streak, partying a lot all the time, and buying a few too many things with his money. However, during that period, it was his mother Lucille O’Neal that set him straight. And it was exactly the lesson she taught him back then, that he decided to pass forward to Ja Morant.
Shaquille O’Neal recently appeared as a guest on the radio show to express his views on the incident. He talked about his mom, Lucille O’Neal, and how she was a moral compass for him during his time in the league. Here is what he said, once again on the Rich Eisen Show:
“I think he’s going to learn from his mistakes and he would understand that he has a responsibility. I remember my mother telling me one day, you have a responsibility to your organization, your obligation, and to all the children that look up to you. It’s an unwritten rule, especially with the NBA, you shouldn’t do things like that.”
It is pretty clear that Ja Morant is lacking a similar figure in his life that can point him in the right direction. Let’s not forget that he is only 23 years old and has his entire career ahead of him. His family must provide guidance and support to prevent his career from blowing apart. Maybe, if Ja is listening, the advice from Shaq’s mother could be a great starting point.
What does Ja Morant stand to lose?
Ja Morant recently signed a contract extension of 194 million dollars over five years which kicks in from the 2023-24 season. He has already lost around $700,000 after his suspension in March. With a repeat offense, Ja is set to lose a lot more once the league concludes its ongoing investigation.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Ja Morant could be facing a lengthy suspension for his actions. He could miss half the season starting in October. Carrying a firearm as an accessory is a dangerous precedent the league will not allow to foster.
Sneaker giant ‘Nike’ will also be taking harsh decisions concerning Morant as their brand ambassador. As an initial measure, they have decided to remove his signature shoe line from their website. This could lead to a more drastic step, as observed by their decision to end the association with Kyrie Irving.
