An NBA star has chimed in on the controversial behavior of Memphis Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant. Point guard Patrick Beverley blames the rapper’s behavior on “this culture”.
After appearing to brandish a gun during an IG Live session, Morant entered a counseling program and was suspended indefinitely by the Grizzlies. He has since left the program and plans on working on himself.
Beverley explains why he thinks Morant’s behavior is related to rap music
During a recent episode of the Pat Bev podcast, Chicago Bulls guard Patrick Beverley was asked about the controversial behavior of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. During the discussion, Beverley was not afraid to speak his mind.
He said that he believes the current climate of rap music and hip-hop has a lot to do with Morant’s actions. He also stated that he believes that the rappers have a big impact on today’s youth.
In a nutshell, rap is an art form that originated in the Bronx in 1971. It is a type of music that features lyrics and an instrumental that’s referred to as a “beat”.
Rap has evolved throughout the years, incorporating different elements like street graffiti, beatboxing, breakdancing and more. It is a popular culture that has many fans and critics. However, it has also helped many young people gain a voice.
Morant’s gun incident
Ja Morant has been in the news for a few bad things as of late, and that’s not surprising considering he is one of the highest-profile NBA stars. His recent behavior has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, especially since he is a sought-after endorser for Nike and Powerade.
The 23-year-old is a two-time All-Star and has already starred for the Memphis Grizzlies. But he’s got a lot to fix when it comes to his reputation, and that hasn’t been easy.
Among the issues that have been plaguing him are multiple incidents of threatening and violent behavior off the court. Some of these were reported last summer, including a report that Morant assaulted a teenager and intimidated a mall security guard.
Morant’s suspension
On Tuesday, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was suspended by the NBA for eight games for posting a video on Instagram of himself holding a gun while at a nightclub. The suspension was announced hours after Morant met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver and other executives in New York to discuss his behavior.
According to ESPN’s Jalen Rose, the 23-year-old guard has recognized that his conduct was “irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” and he’s committed to making better decisions.
He also said he’s now more aware of what’s at stake for him and the people around him.
The Grizzlies star has made news for a number of off-court issues that have been attributed to him, including punching a teenage boy during a pickup basketball game, threatening a security guard at a mall, and pointing a laser pointer at members of the Indiana Pacers after a game. All of these incidents prompted an investigation by the NBA, which determined no criminal charges would be filed against Morant.
Morant’s return
When a young basketball player is in trouble, it is not uncommon for the media to make a big deal out of it. This is especially true in the case of Ja Morant, who has been a topic of discussion for all the wrong reasons over the past few weeks.
The Memphis Grizzlies star has been removed from the team for the time being after video surfaced of him holding what appeared to be a gun at a nightclub near Denver. He apologized for the incident and stepped away from the team, but the Grizzlies haven’t said when he will return to the court.
In addition to the gun incident, Morant has also been the subject of a series of allegations over the past month. Those include a situation with staffers on the Indiana Pacers and a physical altercation with a teenager. In addition, he was accused of threatening a security guard last summer.
