Charles Barkley had a message for Ja Morant throughout Wednesday’s “NBA Tip-Off” on TNT — and for these defending the Grizzlies star after he appeared to flash a gun in an Instagram Stay video for a second time.
When somebody makes greater than $100 million to “dribble a silly basketball” and play within the NBA, sure expectations are connected to the chance that’s like “you hit the lottery,” Barkley mentioned.
And flashing a gun in two Instagram Stay movies throughout slightly greater than two months — along with the opposite off-court points reported in an investigation by The Washington Put up — falls into the class of actions the place “you possibly can’t earn a living on the NBA doing that stuff,” in response to Barkley.
“Man, if you’re making $100 million a 12 months to play sports activities, your life modifications,” Barkley mentioned on the pregame present forward of the Japanese Convention finals opener. “There are specific guidelines and rules it’s a must to reside by, plain and easy. You may’t do silly stuff. That’s the trade-off. Now if you wish to do all that stuff and provides all that cash again, extra energy to you.”
Morant appeared to flash a gun throughout an Instagram Stay video Saturday whereas in a automotive, and the Grizzlies suspended Morant from all crew actions the following day — with ESPN reporting that Morant might face a “prolonged suspension” that exceeds the eight-games punishment from the league following the primary Instagram Stay video whereas at a strip membership in early March.
The 23-year-old guard, signed a five-year, $194 million deal final July, launched an announcement that acknowledged he has “upset lots of people who’ve supported me.”
“This can be a journey and I acknowledge there may be extra work to do,” Morant mentioned in his assertion. “My phrases might not imply a lot proper now, however I take full accountability for my actions. I’m dedicated to persevering with to work on myself.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver mentioned that he was “shocked” by the video when he noticed it, including that the league was “assuming the worst” throughout its investigation.
And for the reason that second video surfaced, reveals and particular person tv hosts have voiced varied opinions about Morant, together with “some idiots, some fools, some jackasses on tv that basically simply piss me off” with their factors, Barkley mentioned.
“Speaking about Ja ought to make a stance saying he didn’t break any legal guidelines, he didn’t do something improper, we’re in a state the place you possibly can carry your gun — these guys are simply, they’re simply freaking idiots …,” Barkley mentioned.
Morant averaged 26.2 factors per sport within the common season and helped the Grizzlies clinch a playoff spot earlier than being eradicated by the Lakers within the first spherical.
