SUMMARY
- Lil Wayne, in an interview with Taylor Rooks via Bleacher Report, expressed his belief that Memphis Grizzlies' star Ja Morant could be the next face of the NBA.
- Lil Wayne's endorsement of Ja Morant received mixed reactions from NBA fans.
As LeBron James approaches his 39th birthday in his 21st NBA season, talks about who could become the face of the league after him are increasing. Hip-hop icon Lil Wayne recently weighed in, suggesting Memphis Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant as the next face of the NBA in an interview with Taylor Rooks via Bleacher Report.
Wayne compares Morant’s impact to that of basketball legends like Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, known for their ability to attract audiences. According to Wayne, Morant brings a similar level of energy and competitiveness to the game.
“To me, the obvious answer is Ja [Morant],” Wayne told Taylor Rooks in an interview via Bleacher Report. “Because the NBA is entertainment. What I mean by that, there was Michael Jordan, which was just like, God. You were always going to watch these Atlanta Hawk games just what Dominique, just to see if he’s going to get one of ‘em off.”
Lil Wayne tells @TaylorRooks why Ja should be the face of the NBA after LeBron 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ne1ZJpckp4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 22, 2023
Morant’s recent return to the NBA after a 25-game suspension has supported Wayne’s perspective. In his comeback game, Morant scored an impressive performance with 34 points, including a buzzer-beating game-winner. Since his return, the Grizzlies’ performance has improved, going 4-0, but their 10-19 record still places them 13th in the Western Conference.
However, NBA fans have mixed reactions to Wayne’s opinion. One fan humorously wrote, “Too bad Ja won’t be in the league in 2 years. lol.” Some questioned Wayne’s choice, stating Morant’s recent off-court controversies, “Does Lil Wayne live under a rock?!?” These comments highlight that the “face of the NBA” is a title that not only requires on-court talent but also off-court behavior and public opinion.
Ja Morant’s father claims that Ja is not interested in becoming the face of the NBA
Morant’s father, Tee Morant, shares a different perspective on Ja potentially becoming the new face of the NBA. In a recent statement, Tee emphasized that his son’s main goal is not to become the face of the league but to win as many championships as possible for the Memphis Grizzlies.
“My son’s job is to try to win championships for the Memphis Grizzlies. Face of the league, that comes from other people’s opinions. Second, there have been a lot of faces of the league that have done way worse things than my son. So why is my son under the guillotine again? You cannot do this to me, you cannot double-standard me and talk about the face of the league. my son’s job is to help Memphis win as many games as he can, that’s it.”- Tee Morant said.
“My son’s job is to try to win championships for the Memphis Grizzlies. Face of the league – that comes from other people’s opinions”
Tee Morant tells @termineradio and @jumpshot8 that Ja’s goals are to be a role model for kids and to win games pic.twitter.com/bNel0GsYKU
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) December 21, 2023
Tee Morant’s statement comes after discussions about Ja’s suitability for the role, considering his recent suspension and actions off the court. Tee stated that many previous “faces of the league” had done worse things than his son. He believes that Ja’s role is to help the Grizzlies win as many games as possible.
This focus on team success over individual fame is not new in the NBA. Stephen Curry, for example, has become one of the faces of the league alongside LeBron James, mainly because of his championship wins with the Golden State Warriors. Tee Morant’s statement suggests that Ja might follow a similar path, where consistent team success could raise his status in the league naturally.