Ja Morant‘s father used his son as a warning in a speech to basketball campers on Saturday, writes Elaine Sung of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Speaking at the Up Next Elite Camp in New Orleans, Tee Morant said Ja’s troubles are a result of his poor judgment.
“My son didn’t get in trouble ‘cause of people around him,” Tee Morant said. “He got in trouble for his decisions.”
The Grizzlies guard has been suspended for the first 25 games of the upcoming season because of a second incident in which he was displaying a gun in public. The missed time will prevent him from being considered for postseason awards under the NBA’s new guidelines and will cost him more than $7MM in salary. His first offense resulted in an eight-game suspension last season.
“Anytime, anywhere, know the capabilities of everybody around you,” Tee Morant told the camp participants. “Always be mindful of every decision you all make. Because pretty much, it will take over you, consume you, and make you think who you’re not.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Rockets guard Jalen Green saw a lot of time as the primary ball-handler with the Select Team in Las Vegas, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic. Iko adds that Green’s speed and explosiveness stood out even on a talented roster, and Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, who guided the Select Team, believes he will benefit from the on-ball experience. “I think coach Ime (Udoka)’s going to do a fantastic job communicating that with him,” Mosley said. “And I think in a leader that you have in Fred (VanVleet), that’s going to help a ton because when he plays off the basketball — back screening, moving and cutting — once he gets that ball in his hands, you’re not playing against closeouts. I think that’s going to work to his advantage a ton.”
- Greg Jefferson of The San Antonio Express-News has uncovered emails and texts involving an effort by some city officials to get the Spurs to move to a downtown arena. Jefferson states that the attempt was inspired by the team’s 50th anniversary game in January, which set an NBA record by attracting 68,000 fans to the Alamodome, its former arena. Winning the lottery and drafting Victor Wembanyama intensified the enthusiasm to bring the Spurs back downtown, but Jefferson notes that no one informed officials from Bexar County, which owns the Frost Bank Center (previously the AT&T Center), where the Spurs currently play.
- After missing the playoffs last season, the Pelicans have just 12 nationally televised games for 2023/24, their lowest total in the past five years, notes Christian Clark of NOLA.
Tee deflecting from his parenting shortcomings…
And how do you know his ‘shortcomings’ is why Ja keeps making stupid decisions? Even if he wasn’t the greatest parent in the world, Ja is a grown man. You gotta step up and be accountable for your own life and be responsible to and for yourself. There’s an age old expression…you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. You can be the best parent in the world and teach your kid all the right things but they’ll still go out and screw up sometimes. Doesn’t make you a bad parent. Just means your kid is a moron. And whether Tee was a good parent or a Nad parent….his son is a moron. Of that there can be no doubt.
Don’t be surprised when Green winds up in Orlando. The rockets have committed to Smith in his spot.
Totally agree FVV is going to help Green. Green is ready now to take another step up. This is a talented player. Keep your eye on him.