The NBA has its fair share of players displaying disappointing conduct off the court. Some bigger than others. While the media and fans crucify the stars, some veterans tend to look at the issue with a different perspective at such times. Stephen Jackson is one of them. The former NBA player-turned-sportscaster had paid for his own mistakes during his playing career. It makes him more empathetic to a certain young player who has run into a similar scandal.

Fans have been debating Ja Morant’s recent controversy for months. A few former players have come to his defense, including Jackson. It would come up when he appeared on Cam Newton’s show and they called out the culture prevalent within the new generation of athletes.

Stephen Jackson and Cam Newton revisit Ja Morant’s situation

All the Smoke host, Stephen Jackson was on the other side of the questions when he appeared on Funky Friday with Cam Newton. The NBA champion and the retired NFL pro discussed the controversy surrounding Ja Morant. Jackson had his own wild story from his NBA career. So he relates to Morant in a way. The NBA and NFL veterans agreed that young players like Ja have to learn from the mistakes of the experienced.

Morant has had a few run-ins with the law. In March 2023, he got into trouble for flashing a firearm during an Instagram live. Jackson defended him at that time. Notably, Jackson has a firearm violation on his own record and he paid the consequences for it. He, however, claims his crime was worse and Morant shouldn’t be forced into counseling.

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Now both Newton and Jackson see that young athletes are yearning for help. To that, Jackson said, “The ones that ain’t broke. The ones that got going on, the ones that’s winning, they accepting the game, they ain’t hating. It’s the broke ones. It’s the ones that’s dying inside. It’s the ones that point the finger, ‘Why him and not me?'” 

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He says they are the ones “not listening.” On the other hand, the players who are paying attention to the veterans are evolving and winning, according to Jackson.

Cam Newton on his struggles

Cam Newton, who entered the NFL in 2011, said he lacked mentors who could truly understand his background. He explained his dilemma was that he wasn’t comfortable hanging out with NFL players but the company he kept outside the league wasn’t ideal either.

The quarterback had a notorious partying phase in his early career. He said even his loved ones were concerned about his excessive “wilding.” Injuries riddled the later half of his career which ended in 2021 after the Carolina Panthers didn’t re-sign him. Now the 2015 MVP has changed his tune. He’d rather discourage a rookie from a partying lifestyle.

He disclosed that when he returned to the Panthers for a second term, things were a lot more comfortable. He didn’t need to go out and find a good time. In fact, he enjoyed his privacy a lot more.

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Newton and Jackson believe the younger crop of athletes needs to seek out the “OGs” for help and can certainly see where the problem lies. Do you also agree with their opinions?