Kevin Garnett Offers Advice to Ja Morant on Finding Joy in Basketball

The former NBA champion and All-Star urges the Grizzlies star to focus on the love of the game amid a challenging season.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 11:27pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the basketball skills and struggles of Ja Morant, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form conveying the complexity of the young star's journey.Garnett's advice aims to help Morant rediscover the passion that made him a must-watch NBA talent.Memphis Today

NBA legend Kevin Garnett has offered some words of wisdom to Ja Morant, the talented but troubled Memphis Grizzlies guard. Garnett, who hosts the podcast 'KG Certified', advised Morant to 'get off your pride' and 'focus on the love' of basketball amid a tumultuous year that saw Morant suspended and his trade value diminish. Garnett, who faced his own challenges early in his career, emphasized the importance of finding joy in the game and not getting caught up in the 'hate' that comes with stardom.

Why it matters

Morant is considered one of the NBA's rising young stars, but his off-court issues this season have threatened to derail his promising career. Garnett's advice comes from a place of experience, as the former Timberwolves and Celtics great also navigated the challenges of stardom early on. His message to Morant could be pivotal in helping the young guard rediscover his passion for the game and get his career back on track.

The details

On his podcast 'KG Certified', Garnett told Morant to 'get off your pride' and 'focus on the love' of basketball. Garnett, who was drafted straight out of high school like Morant, said the Grizzlies star needs to 'go travel, go play, go do what makes you happy' in order to find his joy for the game again. Garnett also tapped his chest and told Morant 'From me to you, yeah. Love,' emphasizing the importance of not getting caught up in the 'hate' that comes with stardom.

  • Garnett's advice to Morant came on the April 18, 2026 episode of his podcast 'KG Certified'.

The players

Kevin Garnett

A former NBA player who won a championship with the Boston Celtics and is now a podcast host, offering advice to current players like Ja Morant.

Ja Morant

The star point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies, who has faced off-court issues this season that have threatened to derail his promising career.

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What they’re saying

“Get off your pride, bro. Go travel, go play, go do what makes you happy... focus on the love. F*ck the hate. The hate is going to be there... Something you're doing isn't working and you've got to find it.”

— Kevin Garnett, Former NBA Player and Podcast Host

What’s next

If Morant remains with the Grizzlies, it will be worth watching to see if he is able to take Garnett's advice and rediscover his joy and passion for the game. A turnaround in Morant's career could be aided by Garnett's mentorship.

The takeaway

Garnett's message to Morant highlights the importance of maintaining perspective and focus amid the pressures of NBA stardom. By emphasizing the need to 'focus on the love' of basketball rather than external 'hate', Garnett is urging Morant to recenter himself and find the joy that made him a rising star in the first place.