Charles Barkley reacts to Ja Morant gun controversy: 'It's time to grow up' / News - Basketnews.com

Charles Barkley weighed in on Ja Morant's gun flashing in a recent NBA on TNT episode, saying that you cannot act like a damn fool and idiot when you are one of the faces of the league.

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Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley discussed Ja Morant's gun controversy in the latest NBA on TNT episode with co-hosts -- Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Jamal Crawford.

Ja Morant

Team:Memphis GrizzliesPosition:PGAge:23Height:190 cmWeight:79 kgBirth place:South Carolina, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Barkley, 60, sent a powerful message to Morant who flashed a gun at the nightclub. It was the third gun-related moment in recent time, after which Ja took a break from basketball, deactivated his Twitter and Instagram accounts, and entered the 'healing process.'

Chuck's words:

"To have one of our brightest stars have three gun incidents is way over the limit. I hope the kid grows up and matures and gets better people around him. I think one of the reasons Adam Silver has been quiet -- I think the Grizzlies are like, 'Hey, he's out. He's going to be out at least four more games, we're not gonna just pat him on the wrist and throw him back out there.'

But it's time for Ja Morant to grow up. Next year, his new deal kicks in. It's worth five years, $231 million. Man, you can't screw this up. You're one of the best basketball players we got in this league, you're one of the new faces of our league, and you're out here acting like a damn fool and idiot. It's not all on him, the people around him.

He's 23. We are all stupid at 23. I ain't gonna get on here like I did not do stupid stuff when I was 23, but you have to surround yourself [with adults].

Being famous ain't easy, especially now. With all these video cameras, Twitter accounts, you got to really surround yourself with adults. I feel bad about the situation because I don't know the kid...

But now he's screwing the team. When you're the best player on the team, when you get suspended, it hurts the whole team. So not only did he let himself down [but his team too]. I love the way he apologized to his family, his teammates, the city of Memphis, and the coaching staff, but man, there's no need [to carry a gun].

If you need a gun on you all the time, 'Hey, you are going to the wrong places.' And I'm a gun guy. I don't ever touch my gun unless I'm going to practice. But I never just cared it around to show people. And as I said, I'm not one of those guys who's anti-gun, but if you gonna have a gun, you have to be really, really responsible with it."

Memphis Grizzlies guard Morant will be away from the team for at least four more games, the club said on Wednesday, shortly after police announced that Ja will not face charges in Colorado related to the live-streamed video in which he appeared to be displaying a gun in a strip club.

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