Ja Morant was in the headlines on Wednesday (Mar. 1), but for all the wrong reasons. Morant's troubled summer made its way to The Washington Post, and it's not a good look for the Memphis Grizzlies superstar.
Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, who had his own fair share of controversies during his career, advised Morant regarding his issues. Arenas first made light of the situation where Morant, rather than his father, Tee, was called to come to the rescue of his mother, Jamie.
"If his mother called him, not the father?" Arenas said. "Isn't big Tee around? You call your son? He's got to be Pablo Escobar. He's got to be the man."
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In all seriousness, Gilbert Arenas noted that it's tough to teach young guys in the NBA.
However, Arenas explained that Ja Morant has to go through the experience to become a wiser man. The three-time All-Star advised Morant to send his friends out instead of him and give his mother a bodyguard.
"He's young, man," Arenas said. "It's really hard to guide young (players) because they had to go through experience for them to be wise. ... Nine people? If you're gonna send nine, you sit in the car. Or you're mom should have a bodyguard."
Arenas was referring to The Washington Post report that Morant and his friends threatened officials of a Memphis mall. Morant's mother reportedly got into an altercation with a Finish Line employee and called her son afterwards.
Four days after the mall incident, Morant allegedly beat up a 17-year-old teenage boy in his Memphis home and then brandished a gun in front of him. An ongoing lawsuit has been filed by the boy's family against Morant and his friend Davonte Pack.
Ja Morant leads Grizzlies to third straight win
Ja Morant continued his hot start following the All-Star break. He helped the Memphis Grizzlies win their third straight game, beating the Houston Rockets 113-99. Morant ended with 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Desmond Bane had 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
The Grizzlies improved to 38-23 and remained second in the Western Conference. They're five games behind leaders Denver Nuggets (44-19) and just two games ahead of the Sacramento Kings (36-25).
It has been another great season for Morant and the Grizzlies. They're expected to make the playoffs and could win the West depending on matchups. The Nuggets would be tough to beat, as well as the Phoenix Suns, LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors, though.
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