Rapper Lil Wayne has claimed Ja Morant is the best candidate to take over as the face of the NBA once LeBron James retires.

That is despite the Memphis Grizzlies star’s disciplinary issues that recently saw him return from a 25-game suspension after a video of him flashing a handgun was posted online.

The video showed Morant sitting in the passenger seat of a car and was posted after he finished serving an eight-game suspension in March for another video in which he displayed a handgun in a Denver-area strip club.

Morant played for the first time this season on Tuesday night and scored a sublime buzzer beater against the New Orleans Pelicans.

He continued his return with another solid performance in Memphis’ 116-103 win over the Pacers on Thursday, scoring 20 points.

Lil Wayne has claimed Ja Morant should take over as the face of the NBA after LeBron James

 

Lil Wayne has claimed Ja Morant should take over as the face of the NBA after LeBron James

Lil Wayne says Morant provides entertainment and plays in a competitive Memphis team

 

Lil Wayne says Morant provides entertainment and plays in a competitive Memphis team

He has proven himself to be a sublime player on the court and a key player for the Grizzlies but off-court issues have dogged his career so far.

But, when asked who should take over as the face of the NBA when LeBron walks away, Lil Wayne said Morant was the ‘obvious answer’.

He explained: ‘To me I think the obvious answer is Ja.

‘The NBA is entertainment. What I mean by that is there was always Michael Jordan and that was, you know, like God.

‘You gonna watch these Atlanta Hawks games just to see Dominique (Wilkins) and see if he can get one of ’em off.

‘I’m gonna watch these Portland games to see if Clyde (Drexler) going to get him one.

‘Ja’s teams are actually competitive when he’s there and when he’s doing his thing.’

Morant was the No. 2 pick overall in the 2019 draft, 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year and 2022 Most Improved Player. He is also a two-time All Star.

The ban for gun play is not the only thing troubling Morant off the court, either.

Morant was singing with friends when caught holding up a handgun during a livestream video

 

Morant was singing with friends when caught holding up a handgun during a livestream video

The point guard was suspended after flashing a firearm on an Instagram Live

 

The point guard was suspended after flashing a firearm on an Instagram Live

Morant allegedly struck a then-17-year-old boy, Josh Holloway, at his Memphis mansion

 Morant allegedly struck a then-17-year-old boy, Josh Holloway, at his Memphis mansion

A Tennessee judge on Wednesday said she wouldn’t immediately hand down a ruling on whether his legal team successfully argued that the NBA star is immune from being sued by a teenager he punched during a pickup game in 2022.

The lawsuit filed by Joshua Holloway accuses Morant of assaulting him when the Grizzlies guard punched him during a pickup game at the home of Morant’s parents on July 26, 2022.

Then 17, Holloway had been invited to play at the private court of the Morant family. Holloway is now 18 and he plays for Samford University.

Morant says he was defending himself after Holloway aggressively threw the basketball at him with a one-handed, baseball-style pass and hit him in the face.

Morant’s father, Tee Morant, has testified that the family has for years invited young local basketball players and friends of Morant to play on their full-sized home court.

Morant’s parents cook a meal for the players after the pickup games.

Holloway had been invited to play several times and had built a friendly relationship with the Morants.

Ja Morant testified that the teen behaved well and showed respect to him and his family during his previous visits.