When Ja Morant was first filmed with a gun, it was unfortunate, it was branded a mistake, he was compliant, remorseful, and seemingly, willingly underwent counseling.
But now, there’s a second video of him with a gun.
A second time is not unfortunate.
It’s not a mistake.
It’s reckless and immature.
Here you have one of the most exciting athletes in the NBA.
A ferocious dunker.
A tremendous leaper.
Only twenty-three years old.
Young, rich, and famous.
And proof that all of these desirable attributes aren’t enough.
Ja is on the verge of throwing them all away.
The most important thing he stands to lose is his life.
Being rich and famous are wonderful, but life goes on without them.
Life doesn’t go on if you’re dead.
And one day, if Ja keeps brandishing a gun, he will need to use it.
He’ll be forced to use it.
And he may not win that contest.
He might lose his freedom or his life, which would be the same thing.
I’m not worried about what some White people will say.
It doesn’t matter that he’s Black.
Reckless behavior is colorblind.
It doesn’t matter that the NBA would seem less exciting without him.
It doesn’t matter if the Memphis Grizzlies don’t have its star player.
What should matter is two things.
One is Ja learning his lessons, staying alive, and not taking anyone’s life.
The second is named Kaari Jaydyn Morant.
His daughter.
His four-year-old daughter.
If he wants to grow older, old enough to see his daughter grow up, he needs help.
He needs to pause his career.
His behavior is self-destructive.
At the same time, it seems like a cry for help.
He knows that people will see these videos.
He knows that they will draw lots of attention.
He has to know that there will be consequences.
Even more consequences the second time.
He needs long-term counseling.
He needs to focus on his mental health, not basketball.
For himself.
For Kaari.
For his other loved ones.
Everything else doesn’t matter.
The sooner he gets help, the sooner he can focus on the other things.
And be the Ja he wants to be.
The one we want to see.
The dunker.
The jumper.
The NBA All-Star.
The healthy, happy, well-adjusted human being.