Ja Morant has been in the news for all the wrong reasons recently, and it appears that one of his teammates tried to stop it from happening. Here is what to know about the Grizzlies recent players-only meeting.
If you’re a Grizzlies fan, the past few days have not been very kind to you. Every bit of news seems to just add to the existing junk pile, and yesterday was no different. The Athletics’ Shams Charania revealed on Bally Sports’ “The Rally” that the Grizzlies held a players-only meeting prior to their game against the Denver Nuggets this past Friday.
Reporting on @TheRally for the latest surrounding Grizzlies star Ja Morant – and details on a recent players-only meeting where a veteran pushed for better discipline on the road: pic.twitter.com/ICXC6YlrXF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 6, 2023
That meeting of course was right before the video of Ja Morant flashing a handgun went viral. The Grizzlies veteran center Steven Adams reportedly talked about being more disciplined and not going out on road trips, making the Morant situation all the more disappointing. The rest of the team knew he was really talking to Morant when he made the comment, yet Morant himself clearly didn’t get the message.
What does all this mean for Ja Morant and the Grizzlies moving forward?
Grizzlies must prioritize Ja Morant the person, not the player
I cannot stress enough that how the rest of the Grizzlies season plays out is secondary to them getting Ja Morant out of whatever thought process has led to this situation. It is going to be incredibly important to be willing to keep him away from the team for however long is needed to get him on the right track. Beyond what has already been reported, there could be multiple other incidents or issues that we don’t even know about.
I won’t pretend to have any idea what he is truly thinking or to know what it’s like to be him. Regardless, the behavior he has been displaying has to scare fans and the team themselves alike. Morant is the franchise player and has a $200+ million contract to prove it. The Grizzlies have to do everything in their power to stop whatever is happening. If they don’t, not only will it affect them on the court for years to come, but it could mean the end of one of the league’s brightest stars.
That may sound dramatic, but it’s not out of the question. With the league and the Colorado PD still investigating him, it’s possible we may not see Morant play again this season. That could end up being for the best if it helps him realize what he stands to lose.