NBA Hall-of-Famer Carmelo Anthony delivered a message to Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant amid the guard’s ongoing drama with the franchise.
Morant recently served a one-game, team-imposed suspension for conduct detrimental to the team and upon his return told media members that he doesn’t have his usual joy while playing. His comments set off a media firestorm, with many questioning both his focus and his future.
Anthony, who has nearly two decades of NBA experience under his belt and was no stranger to friction or drama during his playing days, recently offered advice to Morant on NBA Showtime.
"Ja has to man up. ... You're being tested again to see if you're gonna fold or withstand the test of time,” Anthony said. “The coaches are testing you, the organization is testing you. The city, the fans is testing you. For me, how are you gonna bounce back?
"How are you gonna move on from this, how you gonna own up, man up, look yourself in the mirror, take ownership to your part and still go out there and do what you gotta do? ... Put your big boy pants on, let's go play basketball."
"This could be a moment where he could teach a whole new generation how to handle things when it's not comfortable."
Jamal Crawford joins the NBA Showtime crew to discuss Ja Morant's one game suspension. pic.twitter.com/spLSdoUsCg
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) November 3, 2025
Morant might not appreciate being told to “man up,” but Anthony is right. Morant’s issues in Memphis have been almost entirely self-inflicted, and given the sheer size of his contract, there’s no excuse for not giving it your all every time you step onto the court.
Morant is still just 26 years old, and how he responds to his current adversity will go a long way towards determining his future in Memphis, and in the league at large. Other teams are monitoring the situation, and how Morant acts could impact their interest in him.
When he’s happy – and motivated – Morant is easily one of the most exciting and electrifying players to watch in the entire league. Hopefully he can get back to that.