Ja Morant Denies He Has Alcohol Problem: "I Went For Counseling On How To Manage Stress..."

Ja explains true reason why he went to counseling amid scandals.

Credit: Winslow Townson/USA Today Sports

As Grizzlies star Ja Morant nears his return to the court, NBA fans across the world continue to look into his murky past.

After a series of scandals threatened his NBA future, Morant had to apologize for his actions and even reportedly went to a counseling center in Florida.

But as he explained to the media this week, the counseling had nothing to do with substance abuse. Rather, it was simply meant to help him better manage stress.

“I don't have an alcohol problem, never had an alcohol problem. I went [to Florida] for counseling on how to manage and cope with stress in a positive way instead of ways I've tried to deal with it before that caused me to make those mistakes."

Nobody had accused Ja of having a drinking problem, but rumors have been persistent ever since his latest Instagram Live video went viral online. In it, he was seen waving a gun around in what many perceived to be a strip club.

That situation, along with other sketchy stories, really made people question what was making the Grizzlies star act so far off the rails.

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Ja Morant's Behavior Was 'Bad For Business' For The NBA

Morant's actions weren't just dangerous, they also tainted the NBA's image as a proud and professional organization. That singular reason alone was enough for the NBA to hand Morant an 8-game suspension:

“They suspended him for being bad for business,” one prominent player agent told Heavy Sports. “I’m sure the people in the league office are concerned for Ja as a person, too, but they have to prioritize the business. His family, the team, and the other people around him have to be there to support the guy, but everybody has to know where the league is on this."

For a guy with so much to lose, it is not wise at all for Ja to keep putting himself in questionable situations, but it seems he had to learn that lesson the hard way.

Now, there is optimism that he can look ahead and make better decisions going forward.

If he and the Grizzlies can get healthy and stay out of trouble, it could go a long way toward making a long playoff run this year.

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