At WWE Smackdown's show this weekend, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson went viral for his comments on Ja Morant. In front of a live crowd in Memphis, The Rock trolled Morant over the Instagram Live videos that got him suspended.
“You're simply an embarrassment, son. Just like Ja Morant, when he’s waving a gun," voiced Johnson to a shocked audience.
Ja's gun scandal seems like a distant memory to some fans but it's still fresh in Johnson's mind and in the minds of Grizzlies fans who have watched Morant's dramatic fall from grace,
But whether you love Ja or hate him, it's no secret what incident The Rock is referring to here. He's pointing back toward the end of last season when Morant got caught flashing his Glock on Instagram Live. The first time it happened, fans were taken completely off guard and it was the story of the entire league for days.
But after getting off with a slap on the wrist the first time, Morant again let himself get caught and this time it led to some major consequences. The NBA handed down a strict suspension for Morant, and he was banned from team activities for 25 games.
Even worse was what happened to his reputation. Morant was once beloved as a young rising star in the league but his antics and concerning string of behavior only caused the fans to turn on him and he is still trying to recover.
He was able to return to the court this season, but not soon enough to save the Grizzlies' season. After just 9 games, he suffered an injury that essentially shut him down for the year and it remains to be seen how he will perform upon his return next October.
Ja Morant Was Out Of Control In Memphis
On the court, there is no debate that Ja Morant is one of the best guards in the league. For his career, he's averaging 25.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game on 47.1% shooting. He's the face of the Grizzlies and one of the rising young stars of this league.
Even so, his behavior in Memphis has been completely off the rails and it's compromised his entire basketball career. After talking trash all season with the Grizzlies, Morant's past came back to haunt him in the form of several scandalous leaks.
One report revealed Morant's threats towards retail workers and another revealed the time he pointed a red laser at the opposition. He also allegedly punched a teenager after he challenged the Grizzlies star during a pickup game.
Between those actions and Morant's gun incidents on Instagram Live, it's no wonder why his career and reputation have taken such a massive hit. Now, it's up to him to make amends and prove that he's more than the scandals have made him out to be.
With a clean slate and a clean bill of health, next season could be the one that sees Ja have his breakout season for the Grizzlies, but for that to happen, he'll have to stay out of trouble and keep his focus on the game.
More must-reads: