NBA: Ja Morant Gets Backlash for Gun Celebration Amid Scandal

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is in a heap of trouble after he beat up a Tennessee teen and flashed a gun at him. Morant is also drawing backlash over a finger-gun celebration on Thursday night amid the accusations.

After Grizzlies' Desmond Bane drained a three-pointer in front of the team's bench, Morant was hyped up by the shot and celebrated by pretending to shoot a gun at Bane.

The New York Post reported that the NBA All-star was not shying away from the accusations made against him. He and the Memphis Grizzlies have yet to address the situation publicly.

Last summer, the 23-year-old Memphis Grizzlies star reportedly punched a 17-year-old boy during a basketball game at his home after the teen allegedly threw a ball at him to instigate the fight.

That led to Morant going home but returning with a gun in his waistband to threaten the boy. However, Morant alleged that the teen threatened to "come back and light this place up like fireworks."

The teenager has sued Morant, though the basketball star says he did it in self-defense. He told detectives that while he was the one who swung first, the boy was the one who hit first when he threw the ball at the NBA star.

However, the teen noted that he only accidentally threw the ball squarely on Morant's face while arguing. The boy was attacked not just by Morant but also one of the basketball star's friends.

Ja Morant Receives Backlash for Gun Celebration

Ja Morant had a good game against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, scoring 20 points with seven rebounds and seven assists in the Memphis Grizzlies' 113-99 win.

However, Morant received backlash for the finger-gun celebration. Some fans let their thoughts known on Twitter:

Many expressed their disappointment at Morant, whom many see as one of the league's rising stars, especially with the Memphis Grizzlies possibly making the playoffs again this year.

Shannon Sharpe Has Honest Words for Ja Morant

Former NFL star and sports analyst Shannon Sharpe has had his own run-in with Ja Morant's entourage as he previously had an altercation with them, including the basketball star's father, Tee Morant, according to The Daily Mail.

The NFL Hall of Famer and "Skip and Shannon: Undisputed" co-host then gave Morant a piece of advice following the report of Morant's assault on the teen.

He said: "I've said it before, Ja, you're going to have to move differently." He added: "You're in a different stratosphere now. I just think he needs to conduct himself as a person that's in that same stratosphere."

Sharpe further noted that Morant is "hustling backwards." He added: "I would never give you any advice on how to play basketball, but I would try to give you some advice on how to move."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Ja Morant Accused of Punching and Threatening a Teenager With a Gun Last Summer | NBA | - From UNDISPUTED