The father of the outstanding player for the Memphis Grizzlies, Ja Morant, Tee Morant, has come under fire in the glittering world of the NBA, where controversy and fame sometimes coexist. NBA player Tyrese Haliburton, who inked a five-year, $260 million contract deal with the Indiana Pacers, has managed to gain the respect of Tee Morant despite his notoriety and the controversies that have surrounded him.

In an interview with Kevin Garnett for his KG-certified podcast, Haliburton discussed his father’s habit of standing on the sidelines to show his support for his son. “That’s what the NBA does better than any league is,” the point guard revealed. As a league, we give black fathers more influence. The 23-year-old also stated that occasionally, people on social media can become irritated with the attention they receive.

Haliburton responded, “How can you get upset with a man expressing love to his son? You know, you see it with the fathers of Karl Town, LaMelo, and Ja. The Pacers guard ultimately hoped to be half the father his father is to his son. Given the problems Tee Morant is currently embroiled in because of his son Ja Morant, the acquisition of Tee Morant seems startling.
The Morant family’s situation deteriorated following Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension this summer. An ESPN article detailing the 24-year-old point guard’s collapse and his father’s complicity in his son’s damaging actions was published earlier in October. The narrative focused on the elder Morant’s hosting of nightclub VIP parties, his altercation with Shannon Sharpe at a Lakers game, and even his arguments with the Pacers players during a game.