Let’s start this article by setting the tone here. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is an “empathetic” boss and not the “drop the hammer” commissioner that David J. Stern was. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of Ja Morant’s 25 game suspension forthcoming when the 2023-24 NBA season starts in October.
We as not only NBA fans but also regular people of society who know right from wrong and know what the financial implications come with a career and fame, a lot of us would not have done the actions that Ja Morant has shown in the past few months. But, I’m going to try and breakdown Ja Morant for a moment, and this is hypothetically speaking.
For starters, Ja Morant just wants to be one of the guys but he doesn’t understand that being famous comes with a price. He can’t do what his friends do. There’s nothing wrong with owning guns, it’s just him flashing it and it affects the image of the NBA and what he does for a living. He’s not at that place where he’s fully grown. It doesn’t excuse his actions and it doesn’t mean that he won’t listen to the right people who have been part of the life he has.
Now, onto the 25 game suspension that was handed down by Commissioner Silver. With the suspension of Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges for 30 games for his domestic violence situation that happened last year (it was bad, I saw the pictures and police report), I had a feeling that Ja Morant was getting less than what Miles Bridges got.
When people take their careers for granted (no matter what you do), there needs to be consequences for your actions. What happens with people sometimes is they think they’re “untouchable.” These suspensions that were handed down by Commissioner Silver, Joe Dumars and the NBA Player’s Association makes players think, “wow that was light.” Because trust me, as an NBA fan and overall citizen of this world, I think it was light.
I’m a believer in second chances but I surely don’t take domestic violence and brandishing guns very lightly. Domestic violence, I have stories and have known people who have been through it. For me, Bridges is getting a full year suspension, no pay and he has to go to mental health therapy to get a hold of his conduct because this was not the first time this has happened. It’s just this time, he was caught and more came of it.
When it comes to Ja Morant, being young and financially stable for life, the money and what he brings to the table doesn’t matter. If it did matter, he would not have cost himself $39 million dollars by missing an All-NBA team. Ja Morant needed to be suspended 40-45 games to really feel and understand that it’s a privilege to play in the National Basketball Association.
Here’s where things get interesting. Here’s my hypothetical reason why Ja didn’t get the huge suspension we were expecting. Ja Morant brings ratings and money to the NBA. The nationally televised games the Memphis Grizzlies games have, they get huge ratings and people tune in to watch those games. Did that factor into the NBA schedule for next season and the TV games? A very high possibility.
You don’t think that 25 games, the Grizzlies can hang on (with possibly a light schedule and not too many TV games) and they’ll be in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference when Ja comes back? He’ll make his return on a nationally televised game on TNT or ESPN, he’ll be the highlight of the NBA season and it’ll be his opportunity to shine.
I’m quite sure Memphis will have more nationally televised games heading into All-Star weekend and the second half of the season. This is most likely about money, ratings, marketing, etc. You don’t think that Ja’s deals with Nike (who has an apparel contract with the NBA) doesn’t factor into this?
There are plenty of factors that affect this suspension. There’s just no way you’re brandishing a gun not once but twice and you’re only suspended for a total of 33 games (8 last season and 25 games for the upcoming season). I can’t make it make sense, but I can imagine what’s going on behind the scenes at the Corporate Offices of the National Basketball Association (it’s a nice office by the way).
With that said, let’s put to rest what former commissioner David J. Stern would have done (may he rest in peace). We know how much he doesn’t play into the game of being empathetic, especially when you do something twice. The first suspension would’ve been harsh and there wouldn’t be a second time.
The start of the next NBA season will be without a superstar that has all of the potential in the world to be an icon for the league. But, he has to get his mind, spirit and soul right because everyone knows someone that would kill to be in Ja’s position. Those who grew up in the inner city all know someone who had a chance to be great but fell into some bad decisions and never made it out. Those are the ones who sit and shake their head at what Ja has done.
Ja Morant has some decision-making to do. He has to look internally and start to learn himself, who he wants to be and how he wants to live his life. He can pick up the basketball and escape but when he goes to bed at night and when he looks in the mirror at himself in the morning, that’s who the real Ja is, not what you see when the cameras are on him…
