Charley Barkley blasts Ja Morant, TV voices after newest gun video: ‘Can’t do silly stuff’

Charles Barkley had a message for Ja Morant throughout Wednesday’s “NBA Tip-Off” on TNT — and for these defending the Grizzlies star after he appeared to flash a gun in an Instagram Stay video for a second time.

When somebody makes greater than $100 million to “dribble a silly basketball” and play within the NBA, sure expectations are connected to the chance that’s like “you hit the lottery,” Barkley stated.

And flashing a gun in two Instagram Stay movies throughout a bit of greater than two months — along with the opposite off-court points reported in an investigation by The Washington Submit — falls into the class of actions the place “you’ll be able to’t earn a living on the NBA doing that stuff,” based on Barkley.

“Man, while you’re making $100 million a 12 months to play sports activities, your life adjustments,” Barkley said on the pregame show ahead of the Eastern Conference finals opener. “There are particular guidelines and laws you need to stay by, plain and easy. You possibly can’t do silly stuff. That’s the trade-off. Now if you wish to do all that stuff and provides all that cash again, extra energy to you.”

Morant appeared to flash a gun throughout an Instagram Stay video Saturday whereas in a automobile, and the Grizzlies suspended Morant from all team activities the subsequent day — with ESPN reporting that Morant might face a “prolonged suspension” that exceeds the eight-games punishment from the league following the primary Instagram Stay video whereas at a strip membership in early March.

The 23-year-old guard, signed a five-year, $194 million deal final July, released a statement that acknowledged he has “upset lots of people who’ve supported me.”

“This can be a journey and I acknowledge there’s extra work to do,” Morant stated in his assertion. “My phrases could not imply a lot proper now, however I take full accountability for my actions. I’m dedicated to persevering with to work on myself.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that he was “shocked” by the video when he noticed it, including that the league was “assuming the worst” throughout its investigation.

And for the reason that second video surfaced, reveals and particular person tv hosts have voiced varied opinions about Morant, together with “some idiots, some fools, some jackasses on tv that actually simply piss me off” with their factors, Barkley stated. 

“Speaking about Ja ought to make a stance saying he didn’t break any legal guidelines, he didn’t do something flawed, we’re in a state the place you’ll be able to carry your gun — these guys are simply, they’re simply freaking idiots …,” Barkley stated.

Morant averaged 26.2 factors per sport within the common season and helped the Grizzlies clinch a playoff spot earlier than being eradicated by the Lakers within the first spherical.