One former Grizzlies player isn’t pleased with the newest Ja Morant controversy.
On Tuesday, in Morant’s fourth game since getting back from a 25-game suspension for flashing a gun in an Instagram video for a second time, Morant celebrated ending an alley-oop by stretching his arms out, with some observers wondering if the All-Star guard was using finger guns.
Morant, 24, reposted a video on X suggesting he was mimicking an LSU football celebration; the Grizzlies were in Recent Orleans on Tuesday, winning 116-115 in extra time, to maneuver to 4-0 since Morant’s return.
Some critics, like Chandler Parsons, don’t appear to be buying it.
“It’s ridiculous,” Parsons said on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” show. “You gotta grow up. Why are we talking about this? Your team is 4-0 [since Morant’s return.] You’ve been unbelievable. You’ve now been probably forgiven to a certain point, especially in Memphis, right? The team is back to being yours. You’re playing at an elite level. Why are you giving us anything like this to even discuss, to debate, that’s negative? Why is your father [Tee Morant] doing interviews talking about the way you didn’t make any changes in your personal life and your issues, sitting courtside along with his hood and glasses on.
“What else has to occur for you and your loved ones and your folks to learn? Just make this about basketball, make this about your life, make this about your livelihood, and stop doing things like this since you’re must-see TV on the court. Apart from Anthony Edwards, you’re my favorite player to look at. Don’t give us any of this other bulls–t to discuss. Just be a star.”
Morant was first suspended eight games last season when he flashed a gun during an Instagram Live video on March 4 while he was on the Shotgun Willie’s strip club in Glendale, Colo.
He later claimed the gun wasn’t his.
Two months later, Morant was caught holding a gun in one other Instagram Live video while he was riding in a automotive, resulting in the 25-game ban he served to start this season.
Parsons, who played three seasons with the Grizzlies from 2016-19, was ostensibly referring to an interview Morant’s dad, Tee, did with SiriusXM radio last Wednesday.
“Answer this, what crime did he commit?” Tee Morant said, in line with the Industrial Appeal. “I’m being devil’s advocate immediately. I’m being a father and a devil’s advocate immediately. Because, like I said, you don’t put him on the guillotine if he didn’t commit a criminal offense, is what I’m saying. And I tell my son, you made a criminal offense to humanity ’cause so many kids look as much as you. You don’t wanna be the one which they are saying, ‘We did this because Ja did this and it’s out of bounds.’ The dumb Griddy dance? They may do that each one day. They’ll dye their hair all day. But when it’s something out of bounds, I don’t agree with it. And he don’t agree with it.”
Tee Morant also said he and his son have the identical inner circle.
“It’s all the time funny that folks want you to alter your circle even when, like, he don’t haven’t any killers around him,” Tee said. “He’s got educated people around him. But everyone else thinks, ‘OK, this person is that this, this person is that.’ No. Everybody knows their task. It was a foul decision. Nevertheless it wasn’t a criminal offense.”
Morant is in the primary season of a five-year, $197 million contract extension he signed with the Grizzlies in 2022.
He’s averaging 28.8 points and eight.5 assists in his 4 games this season.
The Grizzlies proceed their road trip Thursday night against the Nuggets, the team’s first visit to Denver since Morant’s initial gun video nearly 10 months ago.
