Fiery JJ Redick slams Ja Morant pistol-waving outrage while GOP’s Greg Abbott and Andy Ogles promote ‘pervasive gun culture… without consequence’: ‘Why are we laying down the hammer on a 23-year-old who didn’t break the law?’
ESPN NBA analyst JJ Redick delved into a diatribe while defending Ja Morant, conflating the Grizzlies superstar’s latest indiscretion – waving a gun around while listening to rap music – with pro-Second Amendment attitudes and actions.
The 16-year NBA veteran shouted down the camera while on First Take Wednesday, asking why Ja Morant should be punished while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ‘[is] telling his constituents to buy more guns.’
‘We talk about consequences,’ Redick said, speaking about the potential repercussions for Ja Morant recently waving a gun while listening to rap music. It is the second time Morant has flashed a pistol on IG Live in three months.
‘In our country right now, gun culture is pervasive. It’s pervasive, we’ve got mass shooting after mass shooting and nobody’s doing a damn thing about it. So, I get why we’re so sensitive to this right now, but there’s no consequence for Greg Abbott telling his constituents that they should go buy more guns and then we have mass shooting after mass shooting in Texas.’
Seemingly, Redick was referring to a tweet from Abbott which dates back to 2015. He has not recently implored such actions and has sought to address the ‘root cause’ for mass shootings; ’mental health problems.’
16-year NBA veteran JJ Redick was visibly angry during a diatribe during First Take Wednesday
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (L) & Andy Ogles were singled out by Redick while on ESPN today
Seemingly, Redick was referring to this polarizing 2015 tweet by the current Texas Governor
The 2015 tweet has repeatedly been brought up by Abbott’s critics throughout the past eight years – particularly after mass shootings in Texas. Abbott quote tweeted a report which then had Texas trailing California for the most guns bought during that year.
‘I’m EMBARRASSED: Texas #2 in nation for new gun purchases, behind CALIFORNIA. Let’s pick up the pace Texans. @NRA,’ he wrote.
Redick wasn’t done comparing Morant’s behavior – who is beholden to a code of conduct outlined by the Memphis Grizzlies and NBA – to that of Republican politicians. The former Duke star brought up Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles’ family Christmas card in an attempt to expose some sort of supposed hypocrisy.
‘There’s no consequence for an elected Tennessee official to send out a Christmas card holding AR-15s with his young family and then there’s a shooting in his very district, there’s no consequences to that!’
‘So why are we trying to lay down the hammer on a 23-year-old who didn’t break a law? Explain that to me!’
Ogles was criticized in March for the 2021 Christmas card following the mass murder of six - including three children – at a private Christian school in Nashville by a 28-year-old transgender ex-student.
Asked if he rued the photo, Ogle said; ‘Why would I regret taking a family photo with my family and exercising my constitutional rights?’
Earlier, Redick did admit he was not going in favor of Morant’s actions and he should receive some form of repercussions. ’As far as we know, all of these things have been investigated and no law has been broken,’ he said.
Morant was filmed waving a pistol on the weekend (left) two months after filming himself doing the same thing in a Denver strip club (right)
‘I’m not condoning the behavior. I’m not saying there should be no punishment. There should be. There should be consequences. You are the face of the league, you are representing the NBA, you are a role model to young kids. I don’t think half a season is the right answer.’
The 23-year-old was suspended ‘from all team activities’ by the Grizzlies Sunday and is expected to face a longer ban from the NBA. Commissioner Adam Silver spoke on the incident for the first time Tuesday night, revealing he was ‘shocked’ and that the league was ‘in the process of investigating it.’
Morant released a statement Tuesday night, saying: ’I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me. This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.’
Shannon Sharpe strongly criticized Morant suggesting his apology was inauthentic on FS1 Wednesday. The Pro Football Hall of Famer said Morant’s apology sounded like it was written on Chat GPT.