Former NBA Star Jalen Rose Chimes In On Ja Morant's Situation: 'I Am Ja Morant'

Jalen Rose has been there. And because of his past, what he's been through and where he's at today, he wants to help Ja Morant make some changes before it's too late.

The former NBA star recently shared a heartfelt message with some advice for the current NBA star, and began his message by saying, "I am Ja Morant."

Morant has had some negative attention lately. There have been reports of him threatening a mall security officer, attacking a teenage boy and pulling a gun out on him, and flashing a gun during an Instagram Live shortly after his team, the Memphis Grizzlies, lost to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

After Friday night's incident, which was screen recorded and shared on the internet, Morant has been suspended for at least two games by the Grizzlies, and many are speaking out on his actions. Rose is just one of many who want to see Morant change, and Rose can back up his words and advice with his own story.

For Rose, his outlook comes from experience, and he wants to help Morant see the errors in his ways and make some positive changes before it's too late. Instead of criticizing Morant for his mistakes, Rose takes a different route by explaining he understands firsthand and shares some of his wisdom in the hopes that Morant makes some much-needed changes for the better.

"I am Ja Morant. Like, you guys have got a chance to see me grow up for public consumption since 1991," he began his message to Morant. "I've been involved in drug raids, I've survived assassination attempts, I've been that undisciplined young person that was trying to figure out how to be famous, how to be successful, and how to change the dynamics of my family."

Rose continued explaining that when you get drafted and suddenly rise to fame, as well as your bank account growing, the dynamics of your life shifts.

"You go from being a member of the family, a member of the crew, to being the leader, to being the breadwinner," he continued. "And first and foremost, I hear a lot of people talking about, like, his family and his crew. When you're the leader, it's on you, because you end up searching that lifestyle. You end up wanting to be down."

Rose then shared some wisdom that he learned during his struggles. "People come into your life for four reasons - to add, subtract, multiply or divide. You have to choose wisely," he said. "He has way too much to lose. Trust me, I've been that young player carrying a gun. When you start waving it, that could get you killed."

He then explained that the Friday night video is of Morant on his own IG Live, meaning no one is coaxing him to do it. It was of his own free will. "Ain't nobody egging him on to do that. That's a personal choice. And a lot of time, guys, as I mentioned, fame can be a drug," he continued. "And I don't know what type of pain that he deals with, or type of anxiety that he has, or what types of substances that he may be using."

Morant issued a statement about the situation owning up to what he's done and saying he is taking time to make changes for him. "I'm glad in his statement that he owned that I need to make changes for me," Rose said. "Because as the leader, as the breadwinner, you control the environment. The people that are around you, you select."

Rose then pointed out that sometimes getting fame and money can make a person try to be tough and keep it real. "But you made it. Once you make it, your job is to uplift, to enlighten. And I'm glad that this actually happened at this point of his life," he said.

"He's a 23-year-old young man, nobody got arrested, nobody got injured. I'm hearing too many stories about pistols. Allegedly with the 17-year-old kid, allegedly with the Indiana Pacers staff, last night on IG Live. I saw the video like you guys did, brandishing the gun. The next step to that is now recovery. And I believe that he's on that path. I'm happy that he's on that path."

He concluded his message to Morant by saying he believes Morant will return as a better person, and because of all the things that have happened recently, he's now going to live up to his full potential.

Many of Rose's social media followers left messages in the comment section of his message to Morant.

On Facebook, one follower wrote, "Thank you Jalen, I found this again. I was watching the pregame yesterday and I heard you give this speech. The way you articulated the message was very POWERFUL and EVERYONE up and down the spectrum should've been able to relate. Thank you for being an inspiration, thank you for being a real man, thank you for being a real brother." 

Another person added, "He needs to know that he can lose everything he's worked do hard for. Thank you for stepping up and sharing. Maybe it will resonate with him."

One follower especially liked Rose's wisdom about why people come into your life. "Perfect advice Jalen Rose. I’m using that with my own kids, 'People come into your life for 4 reasons. To add, subtract, multiple or divide!'"

On TikTok, one follower pointed out, "Ja could be dealing with something serious mental issues off camera but that’s still no excuse for him swinging a gun around on IG Live."

Another TikTok follower wrote, "Jalen...He is trying to become street. We wanted to get away from it. He is running towards it."