"Grow up and get better friends" - Charles Barkley's advice for Ja Morant in wake of gun incident is clear and candid

Charles Barkley offered advice to Ja Morant following a gun incident that got him suspended for at least two games. Morant remains out for the Memphis Grizzlies as both the NBA, and police in Colorado are investigating his Instagram live stream showing himself with a gun.

In an interview with AL.com, Barkley reacted to Morant's situation and gave his take on what's happening. The Hall of Famer and former MVP also advised the young superstar to surround himself with better people and stop acting like a child.

"This is a dangerous situation," Barkley said. "I'm not sure what he was thinking. He couldn't have been thinking. Why have you got a gun in a nightclub? If you have to be in a club carrying or if you have to go through a metal detector to get in you probably shouldn't be in there. He needs to grow up and get better friends around him."

Charles Barkley also criticized Ja Morant for his behavior. Barkley blasted Morant for wasting his money and making bad decisions trying to be a 'thug'. He also called him out for not trying to help the community and inspiring young African Americans.

"As Black guys, you've got a chance to change so many peoples' lives when you get that life-changing money. There's so much you can do. With so much violence in the Black community, he's a guy who made it out, is probably making fifty million a year and he could screw things up. If he keeps getting in gun situations, something bad’s gonna happen.

"I've always said we have the best job in the world. We don't have to work in steel mills, we just have to play basketball. With success, you can't put yourself in bad situations. He needs to take a timeout and figure out if he wants to be a thug or a great basketball player. Which one do you want to be?"

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No timetable for Ja Morant's return

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins revealed on Sunday (Mar. 5) that there's no timetable for Ja Morant's return to the team. Jenkins kept things simple by telling reporters that they would welcome Morant back after his time away from the team to better himself.

Morant faces a lengthy suspension if the league finds him guilty of breaking collective bargaining agreement rules. He's also under investigation by the Glendale Police Department in Colorado.

The 23-year-old guard recently signed huge sponsorship deals with Nike and Powerade. Sports Illustrated's Farbod Esnaashari reported that both companies are trying to help rehabilitate the image of Morant.