- Morant and others have noted that the celebration was a New Orleans dance
- The LSU football team has gone viral several times for dancing
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Former NBA player Chandler Parsons was critical of Ja Morant's controversial celebration after he hit an alley-oop against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Morant played in only his fourth game back after returning from a 25-match suspension
“It's ridiculous,” Parsons said on FanDuel TV's “Run It Back” show. 'You have to grow up. Why are we talking about this? Your team is 4-0 [since Morant’s return.] You've been incredible.'
“You're probably forgiven to some extent now, especially in Memphis, right? The team is yours again. You play at an elite level. Why are you giving us something like this to talk about, to discuss, that is negative?'
'Why is your father [Tee Morant] conducting interviews in which he said that you have not made any changes in your personal life and your problems, while you sat courtside with his hood and glasses on.'
Ex-NBA player Chandler Parsons was critical of Ja Morant's celebration against the Pelicans
Morant performed the controversial celebration after hitting an alley-oop against New Orleans
Many X users, including Morant, have noted that the celebration is a New Orleans dance
LSU's football team has been seen doing the dance several times after scoring touchdowns
Many social media users — including Morant — have noted that the 24-year-old's party, which Parsons and other critics have wrongly tried to label as a gun party, was in fact a popular New Orleans dance performed against a team from New Orleans. .
LSU's football team — specifically potential first-round NFL draft pick Malik Nabers — has gone viral multiple times for doing the dance to celebrate touchdowns.
'What else needs to be done so that you, your family and your friends can learn? Just make this about basketball, make this about your life, make this about your livelihood, and stop doing this stuff because you are must-see TV on the court,” Parsons continued.
'Next to Anthony Edwards, you are my favorite player to watch. Don't give us any of that other nonsense to talk about. Just be a star.”
Since returning from his suspension, Morant has been playing like a star, averaging 28.8 points and 8.5 assists in his four games this season.
Parsons hasn't played in the NBA since the 2019-20 season, when he appeared in just five games for the Houston Rockets.
During those five appearances, he played less than 11 minutes per game and averaged just 2.8 points per game.