There was a time when the Memphis Grizzlies looked like one of the rising forces in the Western Conference. They finished as the No. 2 seed in back-to-back seasons, and during that run, Ja Morant emerged as one of the league's brightest young stars, earning consecutive All-Star selections, an All-NBA nod and the Most Improved Player of the Year award. But since that peak, everything has unraveled.
Over the next three seasons, G12 suited up for only 79 games and has consistently found himself involved in one controversy after another, which has diverted all the focus from his basketball brilliance. And according to Shannon Sharpe , the root of Morant's rapid fall is tied to what he bluntly calls a "ghetto mentality."
Over time, one would expect Morant to learn from his past mistakes and find his way back to a more disciplined path. Instead, the two-time All-Star has repeatedly made bad choices with long-term consequences, from waving a gun on social media to mimicking the same gesture during games despite receiving suspensions, to getting into spats with the coaching staff and his teammates.
And even when the team began to struggle in the 2025-26 season, Morant seemed more inclined to maintain a certain public image and street-driven persona with his signature sneaker line rather than prioritizing his availability and stability on the court. Sharpe acknowledged Morant's immense talent but argued that his mindset has consistently pushed him toward shortsighted and reckless decisions.
Speaking on the "Night Cap" show, Sharpe made it clear he has no issue with the neighborhood Ja comes from, but insisted that he desperately needs people around him who care more about his long-term well-being than his short-term image. In Sharpe's view, Morant's circle should be the ones guiding him away from destructive choices, not enabling the behavior that has already damaged his career.
"Ain't nobody say, 'You know what? I want to be a professional athlete and still stay in the environment and the circumstances that I grew up in.' So don't get me wrong because I know ya'll gonna flip it, make it seem like something is wrong with the projects. I'm not saying that. But you work your a– off for a reason to leave those situations, only to have the same mentality that you had when you were in that situation," Sharpe said.
"He's phenomenal; he just needs some leadership, some guidance to say, 'Bro, enough is enough. You've had your three-year run where you did everything that you wanted to do. Lock in, bring it home now," he added.
At this point, it feels as though Moant has mentally already checked out of Memphis. Whether he no longer believes he can succeed with the Grizzlies or simply wants a fresh start somewhere new, a change of scenery might be the only way he refocuses on basketball. Moreover, with the likes of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lock Landale already traded in the midseason trade window, indications suggest both the Grizzlies and Ja could head in different directions.
But the bigger question is, will Morant change his demeanor and antics and focus on basketball more, especially when other players, who were once with him, have moved up the hierarchy charts considerably? Remains to be seen.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
