Vic Mensa Says He’s Praying For Ja Morant

The Memphis Grizzlies suspended superstar Ja Morant on Sunday, pending an NBA investigation. It came as a result of, for the second time in 2023, Morant appearing on Instagram Live with a gun. The first time occurred in March at a Denver nightclub. That incident led to an eight-game suspension for Morant. The second, which went viral on social on May 13, appeared to occur while Morant was cruising with longtime friend Davonte Pack. Morant has since released a statement about the incident.

The NBA world, and beyond, has reacted to the news of Morant’s suspension. While he has had support in one form or another from the likes of JJ Redick and BlocBoy JB, many of the reactions have been negative. Stephen Jackson called him a “moron” while Stephen A. Smith said that Morant is “more associated with guns than he is with winning.” Meanwhile, Kwame Brown called him the “stupidest mfer in the league.”

Vic Mensa Hopes Morant Overcomes

The latest figure to share their take on the situation is rapper Vic Mensa, who was interviewed by TMZ in New York. Mensa’s take focused more on supporting Morant than actively discussing the situation. “I think God blessed Ja Morant, man,” Mensa told TMZ. “I pray that that brother gets it together and he figures it out because he’s too brilliant and so talented. He’s got a gift, he’s got a real gift. So, I don’t want to see him have to go down that path because he’s so good. I think God blessed him,” he continued. “I’m not gonna say anything to disparage him. There’s enough people doing that.”

It’s unclear how severely Morant will be punished for this latest incident. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he was “shocked” by the video, and expressed disappointment over Morant’s relapse into such behavior. However, the NBA will have to find a way to show their stance on the issue while also acknowledging that they are a business and Morant is a major revenue draw. Fans have called for everything from no punishment to a full-season suspension. However, this is a developing story and any updates will be found here on HotNewHipHop.

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Ja Morant’s Apology Accused Of Being AI-Generated

On May 14, Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant was indefinitely suspended by the team pending an NBA investigation. It came as a result of, for the second time in 2023, Morant appearing on Instagram Live with a gun. The first time occurred in March at a Denver nightclub. That incident led to an eight-game suspension for Morant. The second, which went viral on social on May 13, appeared to occur while Morant was cruising with longtime friend Davonte Pack.

While the NBA is yet to fully address the situation, Commissioner Adam Silver said he was “shocked” by the incident when asked at the NBA Draft Lottery. A lot of speculation has arisen about the severity of punishment Morant will face. Ideas range from JJ Redick’s suggestion to simply double the previous suspension to calls for a suspension that would span half the season or more. However, it will likely be some time before the NBA makes their decision, as they walk the line between reputation and Morant’s draw as a player.

Morant Finally Issues A Statement

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 6: Ja Morant attends Saturday Nights at Sound Nightclub on May 6, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)

However, amid all this, the one person who hadn’t been heard from was Ja Morant himself. That all changed on May 16 following Silver’s comments at the lottery, with Morant releasing a statement through his representatives. “I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” the statement began. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”

Despite addressing the situation, the vague and generic statement has rung hollow for many people. Soon after it was released, a joke began to spread on social media that Morant had used an AI program like ChatGPT to write an apology for him. Furthermore, Morant’s statement is essentially a re-write of the apology he gave after his first suspension. In March, after returning to practice with the Grizzlies, Morant said much of the same. “I’m completely sorry for that. So, you know, my job now is, like I said, to be more responsible, more smarter, and don’t cause any of that no more.” Arguably, his March apology was more convincing. This is a developing story and any updates will be covered here on HotNewHipHop.

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Adam Silver “Shocked” By Ja Morant Video

The Memphis Grizzlies placed Ja Morant on an indefinite suspension on May 14. The decision came after a video of Morant flashing a gun on Instagram Live went viral on social media. Morant served an eight-game suspension during the 2022/23 regular season for the same offense.

However, the NBA declined to comment on the video, opting only to say that they were investigating. It was clear that the league was unwilling to let the latest Morant drama derail one of the biggest NBA Draft Lotteries in recent years. Despite this, the league finally broke its silence on the Morant situation when Commissioner Adam Silver sat down with ESPN.

Silver “Shocked” And Disappointed

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 19: Adam Silver, Commissioner of the NBA speaks prior to the NBA match between Chicago Bulls v Detroit Pistons at The Accor Arena on January 19, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

There were two aspects to Silver’s reaction – shock and disappointment. “We talked directly about the consequences first,” Silver told ESPN on Tuesday, in regard to Morant’s original suspension. “Before we got to a subsequent potential to have done something wrong, we were very focused on the misconduct that was in front of us at the time. Frankly, most of our conversation was about how incredibly serious the first incident was of waving a firearm on social media. Again, the consequences there — an eight-game suspension — was pretty serious and something that he, at least to me, seemed to take incredibly seriously in that time. And we spoke for a long time about not just the consequences that could have on his career, but the safety issues around it.”

This background led to a frank and candid reaction from Silver about the latest incident involving Morant. “Honestly, I was shocked when I saw this weekend that video,” Silver said. “Now, we’re in the process of investigating it, and we’ll figure out exactly what happened to the best we can. The video is a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst.” It’s unclear what punishment the NBA will hand down for this latest incident. Morant is one of the league’s biggest young stars and a major draw for fans and viewers. However, the NBA cannot afford to look as those its players can openly flaunt the league’s disciplinary policies. This is a developing story and any updates can be found here on HotNewHipHop.

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SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Says He Was ‘Shocked’ to See Latest Ja Morant Gun Video

Adam Silver on Ja Morant's latest IG Live with gun I’m assuming the worst.” 😬 0 1 screenshot

Appearing in an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews before the NBA Draft lottery, league commissioner Adam Silver gave his reactions to the Ja Morant news over the weekend.

In case you missed it, Ja Morant has found himself in trouble again. The star guard for the Memphis Grizzlies has been suspended again after flashing yet another gun on Instagram while listening to NBA YoungBoy.

The Memphis Grizzlies have already suspended Morant from team activities, but there are believed to be more issues on the way for the star guard.

During the interview, Silver stated he was “shocked.”

“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw this weekend that video,” Silver said. “Now, we’re in the process of investigating it, and we’ll figure out exactly what happened to the best we can. The video is a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst.”

After Morant’s first event, Silver issued an eight-game suspension and conversed with the guard. In Tuesday’s (May. 16) interview, Silver revealed more of his conversation at that time. “Frankly, most of our conversation as about how incredibly serious the first incident was of waving a firearm on social media.”

The post SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Says He Was ‘Shocked’ to See Latest Ja Morant Gun Video appeared first on The Source.

JJ Redick Predicts Ja Morant Suspension Length

JJ Redick has become one of the biggest names in the basketball mediascape. Since his retirement a few years ago, he has gone all in on his The Old Man & The Three podcast. Moreover, he has made regular appearances on First Take. Overall, he has been a huge breath of fresh air on the show as he does a masterful job breaking down the game. Although Stephen A. Smith might not love him, the producers of First Take sure do. That is why he is on at least two to three times a week, especially in the middle of the playoffs.

This week, the NBA is going to be a massive story thanks to the Western Conference and Eastern Conference Finals. However, another NBA-related story has popped up and piqued people’s interest. Of course, we are talking about Ja Morant, who was suspended for toting a gun on social media. He had done this a few months ago and was suspended eight games for it. Consequently, there is an expectation that he could get a total of 50 games this time around. Overall, that would be a massive punishment.

Read More: Ja Morant Antics Lead To Reactions From Snoop Dogg & Fat Joe

JJ Redick Speaks And Shows Mercy

As far as Redick is concerned, a lot of the numbers being thrown around are simply too much. He doesn’t like 50 games, and he certainly doesn’t like 25 games either. In the clip up above, he claims that the NBA should just double whatever they gave him the first time. “I do think a 25-game suspension for this is too severe,” JJ Redick said. “I would generally start at probably doubling up with the suspension that has already been which was 8 games.” Sixteen games seem like a bit of a light punishment, and a lot of fans agree.

That said, it will be interesting to see what goes down here. The Memphis Grizzlies and the NBA want to protect their image. However, Ja Morant is a star who puts fans in the seats. Overall, it is a difficult situation that is going to be interesting to watch over the coming days. Let us know if you agree with Redick, in the comments down below.

Read More: BlocBoy JB Defends Ja Morant

GloRilla Is ‘So Embarrassed’ By An Old Gun-Toting Photo After It Was Used To Joke About The Ja Morant Situation

The Memphis Grizzlies aren’t currently in the NBA Playoffs this postseason, but Ja Morant is still one of the league’s most talked-about players at the moment: Over the weekend, he appeared to flash a gun on Instagram Live, and of course, this comes not long after a similar incident in March that ultimately led to a suspension from the team and time spent in a counseling program. This new video could lead to another suspension for Morant, but while the situation progresses, the memes are flowing.

One tweet that gained traction (with 3.5 million views since it was posted on May 14) reads, “ja morant every month,” and it features a photo of young GloRilla (a Memphis native, by the way) smiling as she proudly holds a large gun. GloRilla shared the post yesterday and added, “I was a menace in high school I’m so embarrassed [crying laughing emojis].”

While GloRilla didn’t address the Morant situation directly, other rappers have. Snoop Dogg, for example, came through with a gallery of memes comedically addressing things like Morant’s agent’s reaction to the video. Fat Joe also came through with a more serious take on the situation, encouraging Morant to reconsider his actions and the people he chooses to associate with.

Stephen Jackson Calls Ja Morant A “Moron”

Stephen Jackson is a former NBA player who went through a lot in his career. Although he made some mistakes, he was able to eventually redeem himself. Now, he offers advice to the young players in the NBA who may follow in his footsteps. Overall, this is a very noble goal, as he could very well prevent a player from making a life-altering mistake. Moreover, he is seen as an OG in NBA spaces, which gives him that much more authority when speaking on certain topics.

A few months ago, when Ja Morant got in trouble for toting a gun at a Colorado strip club, Stephen Jackson defended Morant. At the time, he noted that it was a mistake and that Ja can still get his head right. However, Ja ended up making the exact same mistake over the weekend. This led to criticism pointed in Jackson’s direction. That said, Jackson is owning up to his role in defending Morant. During an episode of the I Am Athlete podcast, Jackson was very blunt about Ja’s behavior.

Read More: Stephen Jackson Explains Heated Confrontation At Gervonta Davis Fight

Stephen Jackson Speaks

“I was one guy that actually went to bat for him because I’ve been a guy who thrown a lot of money at a young age and made a mistake,” Jackson said. “… All the people like me that was taking up for him that said it was a mistake, (that) he’s a young kid, we can’t go to bat for him this time. This was the dumbest thing he could’ve done. This is a moron move. His parents should be embarrassed.” These are some very strong words. However, it aligns with how many throughout the NBA world are feeling right about now.

At the end of the day, Stephen Jackson is not responsible for what happened here. Although, you can tell just how much he cares about the young stars of the NBA, which is admirable. Hopefully, Ja Morant is able to get some help so he can fully focus on basketball, moving forward. Let us know what you think of this situation, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news from around the sports world.

Read More: Skip Bayless’ Damar Hamlin Tweet Causes Reactions From Stephen Jackson & Kyle Kuzma

Dwight Howard Invites Ja Morant To Come Play In Taiwan

Dwight Howard has been having a lot of fun in Taiwan as of late. Overall, the former NBA star is putting up big numbers over there. Moreover, he is bringing a lot of fans into the seats. It is rare that the Taiwanese league gets that kind of star power. Although his first season in the league didn’t bode well in terms of wins and losses, it was still fun for him. He continues to recruit people to the Taoyuan Leopards, and it remains to be seen if any other NBA players will end up on the team.

Now, however, it seems as though Dwight Howard has set his sights on one of the best young stars in the NBA. Of course, we are talking about Ja Morant. Given his success, one might wonder why Morant would want to go to Taiwan. Well, the answer is actually simple. He may not have an NBA job in a couple of weeks from now. This is a direct consequence of his recent antics on Instagram Live, where he flashed a weapon. It was a dumb move, and he has been suspended indefinitely by the Memphis Grizzlies. Subsequently, Howard is taking advantage.

Read More: BlocBoy JB Defends Ja Morant

Dwight Howard The Troll

“Aye Ja you gone get it right! I’m still with you if anyone else ain’t you could come out here to Taiwan if anything. Just leave it home, Dwight Howard wrote. Ultimately, this invitation will likely be declined with the quickness. That said, there is no telling what will happen to Ja Morant now. He has already been given a second chance. Moreover, there are rumblings around the league that he could be suspended between 60 and 82 games. That would completely obliterate the Grizzlies’ chances of being a playoff team.

Overall, this is just a bad situation for everyone involved. Although, Morant has no one to blame but himself at this point. He made a very bad choice, and the consequences will be striking down very soon. Let us know what you think of all of this, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news and updates from around the sports world.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Gets Brutally Honest With Ja Morant

BlocBoy JB Defends Ja Morant

While a lot of people are commenting on Ja Morant’s most recent suspension after anything gun-flashing incident, few people are absolving him of any blame. However, BlocBoy JB broke that tendency and took to his Instagram Story to defend the Grizzlies player. According to the Memphis rapper, Morant should be free to enjoy his time away from the court however he pleases. In addition, he also brought up that guns themselves are not illegal and therefore shouldn’t be scrutinized as much as they have been in these cases. Whether you agree with JB or not, it’s becoming more clear by the day that he stands almost alone in his assessment.

“Guns are not illegal,” BlocBoy penned on the social media platform. “If he turnt in his car with his gun dats in his name in his yard and somebody recorded him dat ain’t on him. Free Ja.” Others in the NBA world and beyond, like Juan Toscano-Anderson, also pinned at least partial blame on Ja Morant’s inner circle. Of course, the “MURSIC” MC is far from the only figure in hip-hop to comment on this case.

Read More: BlocBoy JB Shares New Single “MURSIC”

BlocBoy JB Wants Ja Morant Freed

“That man is trying hard to go play [in] Turkey or China or Serbia-Montenegro,” Fat Joe chimed in. “He’s trying hard to get kicked out the NBA. And those guys that’s with you? They not your peoples, Ja. They don’t care. This is a problem we have with our community becoming famous because the people around you, they like the girls that’s watching, they love the lifestyle- but they’re not you. They didn’t dribble the basketball in the snow on Christmas trying to figure out the Kobe moves or the Jordan moves. They didn’t put in the work like you.”

While Snoop Dogg shared a lot of memes on the matter, others in the game took the issue more seriously on initial impact. Meanwhile, GloRilla recently responded to a meme of an old picture of her holding a gun that a user compared Ja Morant to. No matter how many more funny pictures or scolding takes emerge from this, his future remains unclear. Regardless, stay posted on HNHH for the latest news and updates on BlocBoy JB and Ja Morant.

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GloRilla Reacts To Old Picture Of Her Holding A Gun Amid Ja Morant Suspension

Everyone and their mom is talking about Ja Morant flashing a gun on Instagram Live for the second time, resulting in another suspension from the Memphis Grizzlies. However, they probably didn’t expect fans to connect the dots to another Memphis figure (to be clear, Morant is from South Carolina). Moreover, a Twitter user posted a meme whose caption read “ja morant every month:,” attached to a picture of a familiar (albeit younger than how we know her now) face holding a gun. It was none other than GloRilla, who reacted to the wild snap on the social media platform.

“I was a menace in high school I’m so embarassed y’all,” she quote-tweeted the post along with some laughing emojis. Still, the “Blessed” MC didn’t specifically comment on Ja Morant’s situation, instead remarking a distant time in her life. What’s more is that fans were probably quite surprised to see a pic of little GloRilla in this context. If you’re looking for reactions to the Grizzlies guard’s situation, there’s plenty to go through. A couple of figures in the hip-hop game like Snoop Dogg and Fat Joe gave their thoughts on the incident and suspension.

Read More: GloRilla Declares April 29 “National FNF Day”

GloRilla Responds To A Younger Her “Emulating” Ja Morant In Funny Tweet

In addition, this is quite the curious link considering that they’re probably among the more widely well-known Memphis representatives at the moment. Sure, GloRilla specifically reps her home city, but Ja Morant proved to be a star for the team despite his extracurricular troubles. He tried incredibly hard to get his team past the first playoff round and, despite their loss, had a great regular season this year. We know he’s a fan of YoungBoy, but surely there’s some Glo in his playlists as well. Maybe that’s too presumptuous.

Still, we know that a lot of people are bumping the 23-year-old rhymer. She got a lot of praise since her blow-up, but recently received so from a legend. Method Man shouted her out as someone who’s constantly playing in his household. Only time will tell if this tweet is where her comparisons to Ja Morant begin and end, and whether his future in the league is in more jeopardy than ever before. On that note, check back in with HNHH for the latest news and updates on GloRilla and Ja Morant.

Read More: GloRilla Details Chief Keef Influence, Dream Collab & “F.N.F” Success In “On The Come Up”