Sports personality Skip Bayless has revealed he was contacted by Lil Wayne so that the rapper could help guide Memphis Grizzles point guard Ja Morant throughout his expected suspension.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver voiced his frustrations with Morant after a viral video of the Memphis point guard appearing to wave a gun in a car surfaced on Instagram. Since the incident, it has been suggested that the 'weapon' in the video was either a prop or a toy. That would eradicate the notion that Morant hasn't learned his lesson after being reprimanded by the league for a previous reckless manner involving guns.
Silver noted that it's important to point out that Morant's situation isn't just about discipline but also about ensuring he receives guidance from an individual who may have experienced similar violations. And it's something Bayless, host of Fox Sports 1-morning sports program Undisputed, has also suggested.
On his podcast, The Skip Bayless Show, Bayless spoke about the incident involving Morant and noted that Lil Wayne, a personal friend of Bayless, was contacted to connect the rapper with the young NBA All-Star and offer guidance for his current ordeal.
Bayless revealed: "Lil Wayne texted, 'Hey, can you connect me with Ja? I can help him. I've been there; I've done all this. I wound up in prison on Rikers [island]. I know what happens and where you can go wrong, and I know what's right'.
"I said I'll try. I reached out to Ja [and asked] would you sit with Lil Wayne? Would you talk with Wayne, who would fly to him? He'd fly to Memphis on a private plane in a heartbeat if he thought he could save a career and a soul."
Bayless, however, didn't receive a reply from Morant. Despite being unable to connect the pair, Bayless added that he hopes Morant doesn't become unreachable during a time of need or unwilling to take advice of someone previously in a similar position.
The Louisiana rapper spent 242 days locked up in Rikers Island Correctional Facility in 2010 for a gun issue. The incident charges included one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, according to a court filing by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, which originated from a search of Wayne's private aircraft private in December of 2019. Wayne previously pled guilty to attempted possession of a weapon associated with a gun found on his tour bus in New York in 2007.
Morant's punishment has yet to be officially announced, as Commissioner Sliver explained that Morant's punishment details won't be disclosed until the conclusion of the NBA Finals.
However, in a recent interview, he did mention that while the authenticity of the gun is essential to determine a proper punishment, he's still upset that Morant would present himself publically in a reckless manner after receiving a conversation and a sentence for a prior offence.
