Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is facing a lengthy suspension after he appeared to flash a gun in an Instagram Live video that surfaced on May 13.
In the aftermath of Morant's most recent actions, the Grizzlies, NBA and commissioner Adam Silver have each released statements, prompting Morant to issue an apology on May 16. Ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, TNT "Inside the NBA" analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny Smith didn't hold back when speaking about Morant.
"When you're making $100 million a year to play sports, your life changes," Barkley said. "There are certain rules and regulations that you have to live by, plain and simple.
"You can't do stupid stuff; that's the trade-off. Now, if you want to do all that stuff and give all that money back, more power to you. You can't make money in the NBA doing this stuff."
MORE: Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon react to Ja Morant Instagram gun video
Barkley added that Morant is fortunate to be in the NBA and the face of a franchise.
"I just hope that he grows up. First of all, you're not a thug, you're not a criminal, you're not a crook. You're a guy making $100 million a year to dribble a stupid basketball and you hit the lottery — we all hit the lottery.
"You have to look in the mirror and say, 'You know what? Maybe I'm the problem.'"
Chuck on Ja Morant:
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 18, 2023
"You have to look in the mirror and say, 'You know what, maybe I'm the problem.'" pic.twitter.com/KrtyVKG3U0
When O'Neal took the floor, he was big on accountability, emphasizing it regarding each of Morant's incidents that resulted in a suspension.
"We can't do things to put ourselves in jeopardy … there's a difference between a mistake and a choice," O'Neal began.
"His friend made a choice the second time to hit the 'Live' button. [Morant] saw the camera in his face, and he made the choice (while) not thinking. He has to understand that there are written laws and unwritten laws."
MORE: Who is Ja Morant's friend from Instagram video?
"You're in a billion-dollar corporation now, you can't do that," O'Neal continued. "And you've got kids looking up to you, brother. Kids want to be like you. … You have a responsibility. The two times that he got in trouble, he and his boy hit that button to show the world what they were doing."
.@SHAQ reacts to Ja Morant seemingly waving a gun during another IG Live video: pic.twitter.com/WmfkbUwimh
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 18, 2023
Smith also preached accountability and self-awareness, theorizing that Morant — not his friends — could be the negative influence due to his status as an NBA star.
"At some point, it's not your friends. It's you."
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 18, 2023
Kenny shares his thoughts on Ja Morant pic.twitter.com/GRC5qKYcrT
According to Silver, the NBA is investigating the video to determine its next course of action, but ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that Morant is facing a "significant suspension" based on this being the second offense of this nature.
