Gilbert Arenas Feels Ja Morant's Suspension Is 'Too Harsh'

Gilbert Arenas feels Ja Morant's suspension is "too harsh."

The former NBA star shared his thoughts on Morant's 25 games suspension for waving a gun during an Instagram Live in May, the second incident for the Memphis Grizzlies star.

Arenas, who has firsthand knowledge from his own NBA suspension, recently explained to TMZ Sports why he feels 25 games is too much. He was suspended indefinitely in 2010 for admittingly bringing a gun into a Wizards' locker room after an issue with a teammate, according to TMZ Sports.

"It's too harsh. And here's the reason. The NBA gun suspensions, the actual gun suspension, have only been on three and seven games. Seven games have been the biggest: a gun being fired in a crowded place," he told TMZ.

"Now, the suspensions like me and what Ja got is not related to the gun; it's related to behavior, which is conducted detrimental, which has no number. It can be from one to 82 games, depending on their feelings. Which is, that's the unfair part. I would rather take the gun suspension."

Arenas said that he's being punished, but not "for the actual crime he has committed" and that it's "going off public perceptions, which is the unfair part." He believes that since the public wants Morant, 23, to be stopped, the NBA had to "make it look reasonable" with the number of games he's suspended for.

He further explained that even without the suspension, Morant has "already lost" because Powerade fined him; Nike took his shoes away but brought them back.

"This is self-inflicted. Self-inflicted means he already lost," he said. "He's taking Ls on his public image; he's taken Ls on his public, outside of the NBA corporations. He's being punished for what he did. NBA, you can't step in until an actual crime has been committed."

Arenas expects Morant to appeal the suspension and, with that appeal, possibly get his 25 games reduced to 10 or 15 rounds instead.

During an episode of Arena's podcast, "No Chill with Gilbert Arenas," last month, the former NBA star said he thinks Morant could be the next face of the NBA.

"The only person who has the charisma, the style, is the one that's getting in trouble, is Ja Morant," he said during a May podcast episode.

"He's the only one with the style of play that will put people in the seats."

Arenas explained that when you think about who the face of the league could be, "you're talking about someone that's airborne."

"So it has to be someone that can put the people in the seats, so to be honest, it is Ja Morant," he continued.

"He has the style; he has a look, just right now, he doesn't understand who he is and what is asked of him. He might not be mentally ready to take on that challenge."