© Petre Thomas/Imagn
Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant is without question one of the NBA’s best and most entertaining players. The problem, however, is that Morant can’t seem to get out of his own way. The 25-year-old has been suspended multiple times for conduct detrimental to the league involving the glorification of firearms. He then returned and found himself in hot water again after showing off a celebration where he mimics shooting a gun at his opponents.
Now, after the league fined Morant for the gesture, he’s unveiled a new celebration. The new celebration involves Morant pulling the pin on a grenade and throwing it after making a big shot or dunk. Morant and his fans seem to believe that the young Grizzlies star finally got one over on Silver and the evil, no good NBA.
“Listen, it’s not what you think it is. I’m taking my words, and I’m throwing them out there. I’m speaking Ja. I’m being Ja,” Morant said recently. “I’m going to take my words, I’m going to throw them out there, and then I’m going to block out the noise. And that’s what I’m doing. So when you see me do that, that’s what I’m doing. I’m saying what I got to say to the world, and I’m blocking out the noise in the midst of what’s coming back my way. And that’s how it’s going to be.”
Ja Morant And Fans Believe He’s Being Unfairly Targeted By The NBA
League critics claim that Morant was unfairly target. They point to other players doing similar celebrations involving imaginary firearms. But those players don’t have the history that Morant has.
And as for the grenade celebration, there wouldn’t have been an in issue had he just done that from the start. Because we don’t live in a country with an extensive history of grenade violence. If we did, then the league would likely take issue with the celebration.
But that appears to gone over Morant’s head. Instead, he’s focused on how he’s the victim. He believes that Silver and the NBA have teamed up to try to silence one of it’s most marketable young stars.
What is the logic there? Well, you’d have to ask them. But so long as that’s the lens through which they view things, Morant will likely continue to find himself in hot water with the league.