In a recent development, former NBA player Stephen Jackson publicly criticized Memphis Grizzlies’ point guard Ja Morant for a controversial incident involving a firearm. During an Instagram live stream, Morant was seen flashing a gun, which prompted Jackson to express his disapproval, deeming it “the dumbest thing he could have done.”
“It’s not what you do, it’s what you do after. And, what you do after is not do the same thing again, like what [Ja] just did,” 45-year-old Jackson said on I Am Athlete’s Paper Route show.
Flashing a weapon on a public platform like Instagram has raised concerns about the message it sends, given the influence athletes have on their fans and the broader community. Jackson’s criticism suggests that Morant’s actions were not only ill-advised but could also perpetuate a negative image associated with firearm.
Jackson had initially defended Morant when the Memphis Grizzlies star flashed gun on social media. However, this time around, the former NBA star strongly disapproved of the act.
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“All the people like me that was taking up for him, that’s said ‘it was a mistake, he’s a young kid. We can’t go to bat for him this time. This is the dumbest thing he could’ve done. This is a moron move,” he said.
The Grizzlies took action over the weekend by suspending Morant, who is 23 years old, following the emergence of another video. In the footage, the 2x NBA All-Star can be seen holding a handgun while sitting in a car with a friend.
