Ja Morant’s reputation is once again at risks ground, and former NBA guard Jeff Teague believes history could repeat itself if Morant doesn’t clean up his act.
On a recent podcast, Teague drew a bold parallel between Morant and Allen Iverson, suggesting the league might begin to quietly push Morant out—just as it did with Iverson, whose image and off-court controversies often overshadowed his talent.
“They’re gonna try to Iverson him,” Teague said. “We all loved Iverson, but then they started pointing out everything wrong with him. That’s how it starts.”
Teague expressed disbelief that Iverson’s career ended as abruptly as it did, blaming media scrutiny and the league’s shifting tone. He fears Morant is heading down a similar road, especially as media narratives around him sour and his name disappears from discussions about the league’s top guards “Nobody even talks about him anymore,” Teague added. “And he’s one of the best—not just point guards—but best players in the league. Other guys do the same things and get a pass.”
The concern isn’t just speculation. Morant, a 24-year-old star averaging 23.0 points and 7.3 assists this season, has been trying to refocus after a suspension stemming from two Instagram Live incidents in which he flashed a firearm. Though he returned to strong form, a recent string of questionable on-court gestures has reopened old wounds.
After a heated loss to the Warriors, Morant was caught mimicking a gun gesture toward the opposing bench. While some Warriors players reportedly made similar moves first, Morant’s history made his actions stand out. The NBA responded by launching an investigation into both Morant and Buddy Hield, but the spotlight remained firmly on Morant.
Then, just one night later, Morant celebrated a three-pointer with a grenade-toss gesture—another risky move, especially given the league’s recent warning against any gun-related celebrations.
What’s troubling, Teague argues, is how quickly the perception of Morant has shifted. Once considered one of the league’s most exciting faces, he’s now quietly being removed from MVP conversations and top-10 lists—not because of his talent, but because of how he’s being portrayed.
The stakes are high. Morant is still the leader of a playoff-hopeful Memphis squad and continues to deliver when it counts. But all of that could be erased if the league decides he’s more of a liability than an asset.
Whether he adjusts course or follows in Iverson’s footsteps as a cautionary tale remains to be seen. But as Teague warned, if the NBA chooses to “Iverson” Ja Morant, it likely won’t come with another warning—just a slow fade to black.
