Ja Morant has soared to basketball superstardom since being drafted second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, behind only Zion Williamson in 2019. In just his fourth season, Morant is averaging 26 points, six boards, and eight assists per contest while leading his team to the second-best record in the Western Conference. After controversy forced Nike to drop their longtime client Kyrie Irving, Morant was the easy choice for the brand’s newest signature shoe line. While up for a supermax contract worth upwards of 200 million dollars in the offseason, Morant has recently found himself in the news as the center of the game’s newest controversy.

Morant first made headlines in early March when a video surfaced of him flashing a gun in a Colorado club. The following day, the Grizzlies suspended the star guard for two games. Shortly after the suspension was made public, the two-time all-star released a public apology, condemning his behavior and shutting down all his social media accounts. After a short period of silence, Morant’s enrollment in a counseling program in Florida was made public. While his timeline for a return to the court suddenly became unknown, he and his team believe it is the right step toward dealing with stress and his overall well-being. “It’s disappointing if I’m being honest,” said sophomore Mac Wickland. “He was becoming the face of the league and he just threw it all away.”

The NBA and local police conducted an investigation into how Morant got the gun, but authorities concluded no charges were being filed. Morant, now out of his counseling program and eight-game suspension, is gearing up for a first-round playoff matchup against the Lakers. “I’m glad he’s coming back,” said senior and avid NBA fan Hampton Srouji, “He’s the heart of that team, and with him, they have championship hopes.”

This isn’t the first time there have been reports of Morant’s off-the-court antics. There have been several incidents with the two most notable being the report that he punched a 17-year-old in the face and threatened him and when members of Ja Morant’s inner-circle pointed a red laser from a car to the Indiana Pacers team bus, which many assumed was a gun pointed at them. The Memphis police investigated the report that he punched a 17-year-old, and the NBA investigated the laser from a car incident and had Morant’s best friend, Devonte Pack, banned from Grizzlies home games for a year. “The decision-making is questionable, but hopefully the suspension will give him time to get his head straight and go out there and hoop,” said junior Aidan Smith.

The 23-year-old superstar has had a controversy-filled season, with many agreeing he has growing up to do and for him to understand the position he is in. As one of the faces of the league, Morant has millions of fans looking to him as an idol. With the suspension now liften, the Grizzlies look to capaitalize on their revitalized point guard.