Ja Morant has found a controversial new celebration after he was fined for his previous one, and Charles Barkley has made his thoughts on the Memphis Grizzlies star’s latest antics quite clear.
Morant made headlines once again on Tuesday night when he broke out a new celebration after hitting a three-pointer. The star point guard pretended to throw a grenade toward the crowd and even covered his ears in anticipation of the imaginary explosion.
Morant did the same celebration during the Grizzlies’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night, which was broadcast nationally on TNT. The “Inside the NBA” crew shared some of their thoughts on Morant keeping the spotlight on himself. Shaquille O’Neal said Morant knows what he’s doing because “we’ll keep talking about him.”
Charles Barkley said former Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins must be happy he no longer has to deal with Morant.
“You know one person happy right now. Taylor Jenkins ain’t gotta deal with this crap,” Barkley said. “He gonna get another job that he deserves and be like, ‘I don’t have to deal with this immature stuff.”
Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley react to Ja Morant's hand grenade celebration.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 11, 2025
"He has a history that maybe he should leave the celebrations where people might die alone."
"I know one person's happy right now. Taylor Jenkins ain't got to deal with this crap." pic.twitter.com/5XBlU1YNtl
Jenkins was shockingly fired last month with the Grizzlies in good position to make a postseason run.
Morant claimed prior to Thursday’s game that his new celebration is “not what you think it is.” He said the move has to do with “blocking out the noise.”
Very little would be said about Morant’s new celebration if not for his history. The 25-year-old received a hefty fine from the NBA last week for making gun-related gestures multiple times. Morant has been suspended multiple times in his career for flashing guns on social media.
Morant also did a different gun-themed celebration after his suspensions in 2023.
