Renowned American rapper, Joseph Antonio Cartagena (Fat Joe), has voiced his belief that Ja Morant, the rising star of the Memphis Grizzlies, is purposefully pushing the boundaries in an attempt to be ejected from the NBA.
This assertion comes in light of Morant’s recent involvement in a controversy surrounding the display of a firearm, as a social media post depicting him holding what appears to be a gun circulated over the weekend.
During an Instagram Live session on Sunday (May 14), the Bronx rapper expressed his thoughts on the matter, suggesting that the talented point guard may be harboring aspirations to play basketball overseas, specifically mentioning Turkey, China, Serbia, and Montenegro.
Fat Joe went on to attribute Morant’s actions to the influence, or lack thereof, of his entourage. Numerous pundits, athletes, and fans have already speculated that those close to him have played a significant role in the string of incidents that have brought him under scrutiny.
Addressing Morant directly, Fat Joe stated, “Those individuals accompanying you, Ja, are not your true allies.
They lack genuine concern for your well-being. Unfortunately, this issue is not exclusive to our community. It is a pervasive problem when one attains fame and celebrity status.
The people surrounding you are merely spectators, infatuated with the glamour and allure of your lifestyle, but they do not share your values.”
Expanding on this point, he continued, “They did not endure the arduous journey of dribbling the basketball in snowy conditions on Christmas Day, tirelessly emulating the moves of Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan.
They did not put in the same level of dedication as you have. And mark my words, if you are expelled from the NBA, these very same individuals will dismiss your talent, uttering dismissive remarks like, ‘He was never that great to begin with.
It is what it is.’ Ja, these individuals do not genuinely support you. Anyone who leads you toward ignorance does not have your best interests at heart.”
On Saturday (May 13), footage circulated online, showing Morant riding in a vehicle with a friend while allegedly brandishing a firearm on Instagram.
This incident comes only a few months after the former second-overall pick in the NBA draft was suspended for eight games due to a similar incident involving a gun at a strip club.
Morant subsequently issued an apology for his actions, which resulted in him losing a lucrative endorsement deal with Powerade and over $600,000 in salary due to the suspension.
In a statement at the time, the 23-year-old expressed remorse, saying, “I deeply regret letting down my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis, and the entire Grizzlies organization.”
Additionally, Morant is currently facing a lawsuit following allegations of assaulting a teenager during a pickup basketball game at his residence in Memphis, where he is also accused of brandishing a firearm in a threatening manner.
Responding to the most recent incident involving Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies released a statement on Sunday (May 14) acknowledging the situation and announcing the suspension of the player pending further investigation.
The team’s statement read, “We are aware of the social media video involving Ja Morant. He is suspended from all team activities pending League review.”
