Ja Morant has missed 33 games to suspension over the last two seasons. That’s more than Kawhi Leonard has missed to injury. But this time, it wasn’t a gun on Instagram that cost him, it was one in the form of a celebration. A $75,000 fine later, and the league’s patience looks thin. Yet for Morant, the message still isn’t sinking in. Or maybe, he’s just rewriting the message altogether

But it doesn’t seem like Morant sees any problem in his behavior. If his recent comments are to be taken into account, he is leaning to this persona of being him against the world! “I was pretty much a villain for two years now,” he told reporters. He mentioned how negativity seems to chase him no matter what. “So, yeah. I don’t care no more,” he added casually.

What does it mean when a franchise face, a potential MVP-caliber player, starts branding himself as a villain? Does the NBA have room for that? Do the fans?

His reasoning? “It gives a lot of confidence, not just for me as a coach, but especially for the whole team, to have a guy like that.” Rather than distancing himself from the backlash, he’s embraced the narrative and let the moment define him.

Chandler Parsons, however, isn’t buying into the “villain card” excuse. On Run It Back, he bluntly said, “You did this all yourself.” Parsons emphasized that Morant’s talent isn’t in question: fans still enjoy his game. But he criticized Ja’s maturity, saying, “It just shows a level of disrespect… zero growth as a professional NBA player.” According to Parsons, this behavior damages his role model status.

From Allen Iverson’s defiant style to Gilbert Arenas’ infamous locker room incident, the league has seen how quickly image can overtake impact.

Lou Williams also chimed in during the clip, pointing out that Morant is fully aware of what he’s doing. “He is aware of what’s going on, and he doesn’t care,” Williams said. He believes Ja wants to be the villain and has accepted the consequences. “So it is what it is,” he concluded, shaking his head at the defiance.

Parsons concluded with evident disbelief. “I don’t get it,” he said, calling out Ja for ignoring the league’s stance. Despite his game-winning shot, Morant’s actions overshadowed his performance. And for some, like Parsons and Williams, that’s not a badge of honor: it’s a letdown.

Stephen A. Smith vs. Mad Dog Russo on Ja Morant’s gun gesture fallout

Stephen A. Smith and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo don’t see eye to eye on the Ja Morant controversy. While the NBA was considering further action over Morant’s repeated gun gestures, Smith was quick to come into Morant’s defense.

He thinks the situation is being blown out of proportion. He took to X to respond, “Come on @NBA — and the rest of us. Totally unnecessary. Let @JaMorant play in peace. Let’s not look for things. The playoffs are about to begin. Let’s enjoy the games. Morant didn’t do anything flagrant. Folks are reaching now.” For Smith, the timing- right before the playoffs- makes any investigation seem excessive.

Meanwhile, Mad Dog wasn’t holding back either. On The Dan Patrick Show, he made it clear that Morant should face consequences. “Morant just doesn’t get it,” Russo said, frustrated by the repeated behavior. He called out Commissioner Silver for being too lenient and predicted that the league would be forced to act. According to him, “He basically did it the next day for crying out loud.”

This clash highlights a deeper debate: punishment versus player protection. Smith wanted the league to focus on basketball and not small gestures, especially with playoff seeding on the line. Russo, however, believes the league’s credibility is at stake if they don’t respond firmly. He even suggested a six-game suspension to close the season.

In the end, the NBA fined Ja Morant $75,000 for repeating the gesture after already being warned. The $75K fine might be the cost of defiance, but the real penalty could be his legacy. If Ja Morant wants to wear the villain mask, he better be ready for the weight that comes with it.