Once described as the league's future face, Ja Morant's graph has somewhat declined in recent years. Sadly enough, this has more to do with his off-court activities. The Memphis Grizzlies guard has been involved in a series of disciplinary issues.
The list of controversies ranged from multiple gun incidents to openly defying Coach Tuomas Iisalo, and the latest being a heated exchange with teammate Vince Williams during a practice. Not to mention Ja's injury-prone nature and declining productivity on the hardwood.
His reputation has led to few takers in the trade market as well, which is indeed disheartening, given his talent. Though the 26-year-old can still course-correct, it will have to start at home. Reflecting on the Morant situation lately, former NBA player Michael Beasley had some strong words to say for the Grizzlies guard's father, Tee Morant.
" Ja Morant is in the situation of having an immature father in the house. I love how he loves his dad, but someone needs to get to his dad. I think his dad is reliving his childhood," stated the Miami Heat veteran, citing Giannis Antetokounmpo 's late father, Charles, as the ideal example.
"If you look at Giannis' dad, he came to the arena and was proud of his son. He didn't want no interviews. He didn't want you to understand. He didn't tell you anything he been through or showcase it because it was Giannis' time, and I love how Ja's Dad loves his son. His dad is just a product of what we're speaking of. So his dad missed out on his childhood, and his son gave him enough money to time-travel," added Beasley in his criticism of elder Morant.
Strangely enough, Tee has, in the past, blamed himself for his son's off-court antics, especially during the back-to-back gun fiasco in 2023.
Tee is no stranger in NBA circles, given his regular presence on the sidelines during Ja's games. The elder Morant can come across as highly animated when watching his son play, which has also landed him in trouble. That said, the proud father always means well for the younger Morant.
However, some actions stand no justification. A prime example was elder Morant's condemnation of the gun incident and a 25-game suspension in 2023.
"I blame myself. I blame myself. Because that's my son. When I say I will die for my kids, I will die for my kids. Now has the world thought about that or thought like that? Anything my kid does, I'm going to blame myself," said elder Morant.
Another instance included Tee criticizing his son for failing young kids who looked up to him.
"I'll be a father and the devil's advocate right now. Like I said, you don't put him on a guillotine if he didn't commit a crime. I tell my son you made a crime to humanity because so many kids look up to you. You don't want to be the one where they say 'we did this because Ja did this'" mentioned elder Morant in yet another old statement.
While Tee had been critical of his son's actions, he may need to introspect within, too. The elder Morant could step back from some of his public appearances and media interactions. At the same time, he should come and watch the game as a fan, without overstepping his boundaries.
With age by his side, it's only a question of Ja changing his mindset. The 2022 Most Improved Player was a perfect mix of talent and charisma, thanks to his high-flying abilities. Though briefly, younger Morant managed to put the Grizzlies on the map.
His playing style often drew comparisons to the great Allen Iverson, who was also a fan of the Memphis star. Unfortunately, things haven't gone as expected, but the younger Morant can still make up for the lost time. Looking at the current situation, it's probably best for the 6'2" guard to start fresh.
All things said, Ja needs to be in the right system and surrounded by veterans who could guide him. As the trade deadline approaches, there have been murmurs about teams such as the Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings , Brooklyn Nets , and Toronto Raptors showing potential interest.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
