Stephen A. Smith's Brutally Honest Message For Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant
On Friday morning, the NBA officially announced that Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant will be suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season.
The suspension is for a viral social media video of Morant allegedly holding a gun.
He was suspended for eight games during the regular season due to a similar incident.
Following the suspension news, Morant released a public statement (via ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski).
Morant via his statement: "I've had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I've caused. I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis. To Adam Silver, Zach Kleiman and Robert Pera — who gave me the opportunity to be a professional athlete and have supported me — I'm sorry for the harm I've done. To the kids who look up to me, I'm sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I'm going to be better. To all of my sponsors, I'm going to be a better representation of our brands. And to all of my fans, I'm going to make it up to you, I promise.
I'm spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision making. I'm also going to be training so that I'm ready to go when I can be back on the court. I know my teammates are going to hold it down and I'm so sorry I won't be out there with you at the beginning of the season.
I hope you'll give me the chance to prove to you over time I'm a better man than what I've been showing you."
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith (on First Take) shared bold comments for Morant after his public statement was released.
Smith: "Ja Morant, nobody believes you, bro. Nobody believes you. I don't say that flippantly. I'm a fan of Ja Morant. He is a superstar that I want this game to celebrate for years and years to come. Me speaking for everybody here, I believe, not just here at ESPN but in the world of sports. Why would we root against you? Because it's better for all of us that you put your greatness on display with no troubles whatsoever. Because I believe this man will win a championship one day. It wouldn't surprise me if he won a championship next year after he comes back.. But the fact of the matter is Ja Morant, and I'm speaking directly to Ja Morant and his family. The reason why you're not believed is because you already lied, and that statement that Adrian Wojnarowski, the ultimate insider, just read on the national airwaves that he received from your agent, okay, I'm not casting aspersions on your agent or anybody else. I'm saying it sounds somewhat similar to what you said on camera months ago with your first suspension. So, Ja Morant has to understand you're not believed. Nobody believes a thing that you're saying right now. You're at a show and prove point. We know what you can do on the basketball court, but now it's a show-and-prove element when it comes to your character. Because the mistakes you made, you not only looked Adam Silver in the face, you went on camera, on national TV, getting interviewed by Jalen Rose and you clearly lied. No one believes you. We hope you're telling the truth, but if you ask somebody to bet money that the veracity and truthfulness of your words are something we should embrace, ain't nobody betting money on that, bro. Nobody. You need to know that as you move forward."
Morant finished his fourth season in the NBA with sensational averages of 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 46.6% from the field.
The former Murray State star is already a two-time NBA All-Star and has led the Grizzlies to the Playoffs for three straight seasons.
