Former NBA forward Stephen Jackson has criticized the NBA for making Ja Morant take counseling after the Memphis Grizzlies star filmed himself brandishing a firearm at a strip club earlier this month.
Ja is reportedly set to return to action on Wednesday night on the back of an eight-game suspension but was eligible to play on Monday. The Grizzlies preferred keeping him out for fitness reasons.
The point guard noted he would be attending counseling as part of his apology for the gun incident and, in an interview with Jalen Rose, described the experience.
Jackson, who was involved in the infamous “Malice at the Palace” brawl in 2004, has made a video in which he insists Ja does not need counseling and nothing is wrong with him.
The former player, now the co-host of the popular podcast All the Smoke, did admit that the Memphis star messed up and was wrong to have brandished a gun on such a public platform. But he still doesn’t think there was a need for Morant to speak to a stranger about his problems.
You could check it out in the video below:
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Meanwhile, Morant has pledged to show fans a better Ja moving forward, with claims that he has worked through his issues and realizes how much he has to lose.
Of course, he will be under heavy scrutiny in the weeks and months to come. But we’re all hoping he meant what he said.
