Ja’s jump to infamy
When people are young and talented, almost always they’ll soar to great heights. But because they’re just too raw for the complexities of life (except for a few who had matured beyond their years), they often get swallowed by darker side of fame and fortune.
Time and again we hear reports of entertainment and sports personalities involved in controversial situations that could jeopardize their careers.
The NBA is not only a breeding ground of world-class basketball players but also of debatable actions of people within the league. Yes, controversies and the NBA don’t live separate lives.
Several NBA stars had their fancy for guns and one was thinking its a great idea to fire some rounds into the air like Stephen Jackson. Most famous of them with gun-related issues were Allen Iverson and Gilbert Arenas, after which had their careers on a downward spiral.
Ja Morant is a basketball superstar but he could be the most immature. He thought posting a video on social media dancing shirtless in a night club waving a gun is gangsta cool. Real and responsible shooters don’t brandish guns and if ever you see it from them, you’ll realize too late that you’ve been hit already. That’s real gangsta cool.
For his actions, Memphis suspended him for at least two games but latest reports say that there is no timetable for his return. Likewise, police in Glendale, Colorado, where the incident happened, are investingatong the matter.
The NBA will definitely impose sanctions on Morant’s actions as they have a rule that forbids a player from “possessing a firearm while on team property or travelling on team business.”
What a time for the Grizzlies to miss him. They are already without 6-11 Steven Adams with a knee injury, Brandon Clarke had a season-ending Achilles injury and Dillon Brooks had himself suspended for a game without pay for getting his 16th technical foul.
No question about the 23-year old Ja as he’s extremely talented. He’s on a rookie max deal that could be worth more than $200 million and sponsoship deals worth millions more with Nike (which released his first signature shoe last month), Hulu, Beats by Dre, Uber Eats, Powerade and trading card company Panini America.
Young fans are endeared to the pass-first guard with his flashy moves and ability to elevate. Morant is also known to be generous, raising money for charity, refurbishing at least 12 outdoor basketball courts within the Memphis area and giving generous tips to retaurant servers.
His star had definitely risen and he could be one day be the face of the league. He is role model potential but this recent controversy contradicts the probability. Maybe his handlers should screen the company he keeps.
Ja Morant has everything the rest of us ordinary beings can only dream. With several other off-court incidents he’s involved in, he could prematurely end his career and lose everything if he don’t check his current jump to infamy.