By Tyler Lau
Sports Editor
The NBA suspended Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant for 25 games in June 2023 for displaying a firearm on social media for the second time in four months.
The NBA suspended Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green indefinitely for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face in a game on Dec. 12 and putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold on Nov. 14. Green returned to the team on Jan. 6 missing just 12 games.
The two NBA stars returned to playing basketball as if they were never punished. Both stars committed their respective offenses multiple times, indicating that their punishments didn’t help them learn from their mistakes.
These relaxed penalties show the basketball world that there aren’t serious repercussions for their actions. Professional athletes are big role models for young audiences. Young basketball players worldwide look up to Morant and Green. Professional athletes must be good role models for young athletes because they are the gold standard.
Unsportsmanlike conduct is more common and widespread in youth sports than ever. Young athletes pick up disrespectful celebrations and gestures because they aspire to be like the athletes they see on the screen.
Our athletes represent TCHS just as Morant and Green represent the NBA. Sportsmanship and good conduct should be important values of TCHS.
TCHS should clearly enforce these values to teach sports youth and lead them down the correct path. We should be firm on athletes and students who violate these values, unlike the NBA.
Being a precedent and an example is important for leading future generations of athletes in the right direction, not just for NBA players, but for all high school athletes and their successors.