Shaquille O’Neal reminded Ja Morant that he’s an NBA player — and “not a rapper” — while discussing the Grizzlies point guard and his involvement in the alleged gun incident.
Morant, a two-time All-Star, is currently away from the Grizzlies seeking help as Colorado police investigate the alleged possession of a handgun at a Denver-area nightclub on Saturday.
The NBA is also investigating the incident, in which Morant is seen brandishing a gun during an Instagram Live video posted to his social media platform.
“It was a bad choice,” O’Neal said Tuesday during the pregame show on “NBA on TNT. can lead to where we’ve worked. Difficult to achieve. You always have to believe in a higher power. I’ve always had the ability to stop time and say, ‘If I do this, what will the result be?’ ?’
“There is no excuse for what he did – but remember, he pressed the button on his phone. He went live. If you don’t go live, nobody knows he has a weapon and we’re not talking about it, but he did.
“Why are you in a strip club shirtless? Why are you walking around with a weapon? And why did you hit the live button?”
O’Neill suggested that Morant needs to consider his family before making decisions.
“I’ve seen your videos where your dad… he’s training you and your brothers,” O’Neill said. “I have also seen your mom’s video [Jamie Morant] And father [Tee Morant], They have got a nice mansion next to yours. That’s where we’re trying to get to, and once we get there, we know the letter of the law. We know what not to do, what not to say and we know common sense.
“Think of a higher power. I feel for him now, but I also feel for his mother and father. What are they going through? Before you make a dumb decision, not a mistake, a dumb decision, a dumb choice, think of a higher power – your mother, your father, your children. I’m not going to jump on the baby. He knows what he did was wrong, but remember, he put himself in the situation. He didn’t need to be live.
“[To go live] You have to pick up your phone, swipe the phone to go to Instagram, go to Instagram, swipe again, hit the live button, wait for it to connect… you should have enough common sense to know that That’s not right you wanted to go to it. You’re not a rapper, you’re an NBA player. I don’t know where you are from. I don’t know who’s hanging out with you. It doesn’t matter. When you are making a decision, you have to be smart.
“Now, forget the whole investigation. I don’t like hearing, ‘What is Nike going to do? What else is the company going to do? … You don’t want to see a little kid like him lose that money… Remember, it’s a decision… So he made it for himself. I’m not going to jump on that. He has to deal with things that come his way, and I know he has a lot of support around him. ”
Morant signed a five-year rookie max extension with the Grizzlies, worth up to $231 millionlast year.
The point guard debuted his signature shoe with Nike on Christmas Day, and last week was announced as the new face of Powerade — the brand’s first athlete partnership in five years.
“We appreciate Ja’s responsiveness and that he is taking the time to get the help he needs. We support his priority for his welfare,” Nayak said of the incident. Athletic per.
The incident involving Morant happened Saturday morning in Glendale, near Denver, hours after the Grizzlies lost to the Nuggets, 113-97.
In an Instagram Live video, the 23-year-old father of one was shirtless at a strip club, where he was seen smiling and holding a handgun next to his head.
The police said that they have started an investigation into the matter on Monday and the investigation is on.
“We’re still investigating it and we definitely don’t have any information to release (Tuesday),” Glendale Police Department Capt. Jamie Dillon said. told USA TODAY Sports.
It is unclear whether the alleged gun was registered with the NBA as required by league rules, or whether Morant carried the gun on a chartered flight with the team.
Laura Ehret, VP of communications and basketball information strategy for the Grizzlies, said the team follows Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations, according to the outlet.
Grizzlies said that a statement Morant “will be out for at least the next two games,” said Saturday.
Morant, in His own statement on Saturday, said: “I take full responsibility for my actions last night. I apologize to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down. I’m going to take the time to get help and learn better ways to deal with stress and work on my overall well-being.”
Before the Grizzlies’ final loss to the Lakers on Tuesday, head coach Taylor Jenkins was asked why Memphis had not suspended Morant for the alleged gun video.
“We’re putting those conversations in, how we’re framing and all that stuff,” Jenkins said. “This is our internal business.”
Memphis is tied with the Kings for second place in the Western Conference with a 38-26 record.
The Grizzlies host the Warriors on Thursday.
