Stephen Jackson is a former NBA player who went through a lot in his career. Although he made some mistakes, he was able to eventually redeem himself. Now, he offers advice to the young players in the NBA who may follow in his footsteps. Overall, this is a very noble goal, as he could very well prevent a player from making a life-altering mistake. Moreover, he is seen as an OG in NBA spaces, which gives him that much more authority when speaking on certain topics.
A few months ago, when Ja Morant got in trouble for toting a gun at a Colorado strip club, Stephen Jackson defended Morant. At the time, he noted that it was a mistake and that Ja can still get his head right. However, Ja ended up making the exact same mistake over the weekend. This led to criticism pointed in Jackson's direction. That said, Jackson is owning up to his role in defending Morant. During an episode of the I Am Athlete podcast, Jackson was very blunt about Ja's behavior.
Stephen Jackson Speaks
“I was one guy that actually went to bat for him because I’ve been a guy who thrown a lot of money at a young age and made a mistake,” Jackson said. “… All the people like me that was taking up for him that said it was a mistake, (that) he’s a young kid, we can’t go to bat for him this time. This was the dumbest thing he could’ve done. This is a moron move. His parents should be embarrassed.” These are some very strong words. However, it aligns with how many throughout the NBA world are feeling right about now.
At the end of the day, Stephen Jackson is not responsible for what happened here. Although, you can tell just how much he cares about the young stars of the NBA, which is admirable. Hopefully, Ja Morant is able to get some help so he can fully focus on basketball, moving forward. Let us know what you think of this situation, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news from around the sports world.