Yes Morant is being urged to reassess his priorities after the latest gun-wielding incident by Gilbert Arenas – the man who served a 50-game NBA ban for bringing guns into the Wizards’ locker room
- Arenas faced criminal charges in 2010 and received a 50-game suspension
- He advised Morant to consider his legacy and Memphis to help protect him
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Retired NBA star Gilbert Arenas reflected on his own history with gun issues when he spoke about Ja Morant’s latest gun controversy.
The Memphis Grizzlies star remains indefinitely suspended from all basketball activity by the team after brandishing a gun again on Instagram Live last week.
Arenas, who was suspended indefinitely by then-NBA commissioner David Stern during the 2009-2010 season, spoke to TMZ about what he saw in Morant and how he thinks the guard could change.
“It’s disappointing to see what’s going on and the behavior is still going on, but it’s still a young child, right,” Arenas said.
“It’s no different than seniors at frat parties getting drunk and getting drunk. And when we look back at their lives, they’ll say, “What was I actually thinking about at the time?”
Gilbert Arenas used his own experience and advised Ja Morant to reflect on his legacy
Yes Morant appeared on an Instagram Live video last Saturday – where he was seen with a gun
Morant (L) was in the driver’s seat of a car where he held up a gun for the camera
“You, you know, role models really are a key to success. Understanding that you are no bigger than life and understanding how to be a superstar. Right. Superstars are given the keys, but not taught how to be one.
“So it’s disappointing that he has to learn the hard way, and sometimes this happens.”
Back on Christmas of 2009, Arenas and Washington Wizards teammate Javaris Crittenton drew firearms at each other over gambling debts. After being suspended by the NBA for the remainder of the season, Arenas was sentenced to two years and 30 days’ probation in a shelter.
Arenas said Morant didn’t contact him, but offered advice if the observatory ever wanted it.
“What do you want your legacy to be?” Arenas asked. What are your kids going to Google one day?
“I did 99 things right. I did one thing wrong. Everyone remembers one thing. So do you want your estate? No matter how many champions you win, how many scoring titles you win, they will remember this moment in time.
“So you have to do a lot of scrubbing to scrub the first part of the behavior, right?” So if that’s what you’re willing to do, let’s do it.’
In 2010, Arenas was suspended 50 games and sentenced to two years of probation after threatening a teammate while Arenas was a member of the Washington Wizards.
Arenas also suggested that Memphis should “protect” Morant by investing in drivers and security
“At the moment he is a child. He has friends who are children. They don’t know how important it is who he is. He just goes out, plays a game he loves and is 23.
“He’s not taught like LeBron James. [James] has Warren Buffett, he has Michael Jordan to go through, so he knows he’s learning[ed] how to move.
‘So [Morant] must have guidance from people who are in those situations to say, this is how you move. You move like, that’s how stars move.’
Arenas also suggested that the Grizzlies should invest in drivers and guards, saying, “This is your investment.” $200 million, $300 million, whatever you put into this kid, protect it.”