Kyrie Irving has a real problem with the current situation regarding Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant. But his issue isn’t with Morant himself, it’s with the media.
After an eight-game suspension for brandishing a gun in a Denver nightclub earlier this month, Morant returned to the Grizzlies. He sat on the bench Monday, and he watched as his Memphis Grizzlies got a 112-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
As one of the Mavs stars, Irving shared a hug with Morant and shared some post-game pleasantries. He’s also made it clear that he’s supporting the younger player in light of the allegations that have been made against him. Later, Irving asserted that the media has been far too captious regarding the situation.
“When you’re dealing with particular hardships in the public eye, especially with the media being attracted to just keeping up with what we’re doing, or what’s the next kind of grab or story,” Irving said about the media’s coverage of Morant. “I don’t want to assume anything by every media member, but that’s just the way it seems from me and my perspective.”
“It’s just, there was an overload of judgment on Ja. And there was an overload of judgment on what I had going on, and there’s usually an overload of judgment from the public court of opinion,” he added.
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Morant received an eight-game suspension from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver following the video being posted on Instagram that allegedly showed the NBA All-Star flashing a gun at a 17-year-old at a Colorado nightclub. However, Denver Police decided not to charge Morant with any crime.
Recently in a conversation with ESPN’s Jalen Rose, Morant discussed the incident, apologized, and said he would be stepping away “to get help.”
Morant then checked into a counseling program in Florida but left after only a couple of days.
On behalf of the NBA, Commissioner Adam Silver not only suspended the 23-year-old All-Star for his behavior, he also released a statement admonishing Morant:
“Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless, and potentially very dangerous,” his statement read. “It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him.”
Despite his off-the-court issues, Morant continues to be one of the shining stars of the National Basketball Association. He’s currently averaging 27.1 points per game and 8.2 assists on a team that’s one of the top teams in the League’s Western Conference. Needless to say, his team wants him back on the floor and mentally prepared in time for the postseason.
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