“He wanted to portray that he was hood, that he was a thug” – Shannon Sharpe slams Ja Morant for catching flak over silly acts

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant continues to make headlines with his off-the-court antics. Following an incident where he flashed a gun on social media, the former No. 2 pick was suspended for eight games.

Morant sought counseling in Florida and has since spoken with Adam Silver about returning to action. With the NBA finishing its investigation, the All-Star point guard is expected to be back in the lineup next week.

Since this ordeal began, many have voiced their opinions on Morant and his antics. Some have even called out his father for not setting a better example for his son.

During a recent episode of FS1's "Undisputed," Shannon Sharpe weighed in on the Memphis Grizzlies star. He feels Morant went out of his way to set a certain kind of image for himself.

"He wanted to portray that he was hood, that he was a thug. ... I just didn't get why he was trying to impress somebody, you Ja. Does he realize being Ja Morant is impressive enough."

Is Shannon Shapre right about Ja Morant going out of his way to build a bad image of himself?

In some cases, Shannon Shapre brings up a valid point. Ja Morant is one of the most electrifying stars in the NBA right now. He should not feel obligated to go out of his way to create a false image of himself to impress the world.

Right now, we are seeing what can happen from a star athlete going down the wrong path. For starters, Morant might have cost himself a huge bonus. This short leave of absence could be what leaves him off an All-NBA team. Making one of those teams would land him an extra $30 million.

This ordeal could also impact his ability to land endorsements moving forward. Earlier this year, the All-Star guard inked a deal with Nike and had his first signature shoe released. If this situation had gotten worse, it could have cost him that deal as well.

As Sharpe said, Morant does not have to go out of his way to impress people. What he does on an NBA court for the Memphis Grizzlies is impressive enough. There are millions of people around the world who would do anything to be in the position he is in now.

Seeing how this took his season off the rails, Morant could use this as a learning experience for himself moving forward.