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Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has been in the headlines recently after footage emerged of him brandishing a firearm at a club last week. This marks the latest in a string of controversies for the high-flying young star, leading to a two-game suspension from the team.
According to reports, the Grizzlies had a players-only meeting where team veteran Steven Adams voiced concerns, largely over Morant's conduct. In addition, veterans Matt Barnes & Stephen Jackson have pleaded with Morant to make smarter decisions off the court.
On an episode of his 'Pat Bev pod' this week, the outspoken Chicago Bulls guard weighed in on the situation. The way he sees things, Morant is the face of the new generation of NBA stars, and he needs to control the things he can control while pleading with players to make better decisions.
"It's almost like a envy thing, I see this man's dad at every game, that little shit that you can control little guns, little fights, that sh*t shouldn't happen man. So it's not only Ja, I challenge everybody in the situation to do better. For real because like Ja is the face of the new culture. In a lot of ways we need Ja.
"A lot of ways, the NBA needs Ja. I got video, my son scored his first basket he's ever scored. The first thing he did was the griddy. The first thing. I've never done the griddy. So my son shoots the ball, first thing he does is griddy. I'm talking about full court Griddy. ... That shows you he's taking this new generation by storm."
You can see his comments in the video above shortly after the 10-minute mark.
The ongoing investigation into Ja Morant flashing gun at club
While many may not understand the gravity of the situation regarding Ja Morant brandishing a gun on his Instagram live, there is an ongoing investigation. The biggest aspect to the story isn't the suspension handed down from the Memphis Grizzlies, as many have suspected.
The element to the story that has continued to develop behind the scenes is the 50-game suspension Morant could be facing. If it's determined that the young star brought a gun on the team plane, he would have violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Unfortunately, for Morant, his troubles wouldn't stop there. If it is proven that he brought a gun on the team plane, he would also be facing legal troubles. As the basketball community continues to look towards the league and commissioner Adam Silver for updates, it appears we will have to wait longer.
So far, there has been no word on how the league and the board will handle the situation. From the sound of things, once the investigation is concluded, the league will reach a decision. According to Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, even though Morant was suspended for two games, he has no timeline for when the young star could return.
As the Grizzlies look to close the season strong, an extended absence for Ja Morant could be crushing for the team's season.
