Ja Morant might not care if he gets punished for his gun-themed celebrations … but one former NBA great is pleading with the Memphis Grizzlies star to leave the safety on his controversial gesture — telling TMZ Sports he’s “ruining his career.”

We spoke with Spencer Haywood out at LAX shortly after 25-year-old Morant was fined for his on-court antics … and he had a strong message for the two-time All-Star and his inner circle.

“The people that are around him are not advising him right,” Haywood said. “He’s ruining his career, he’s ruining his family’s life, and his team most importantly, he’s letting them all down. So, I’m just disappointed in Ja.”

He added there’s “no excuse” for using the gun celebration when Morant has a history of being suspended for real firearms — especially ’cause young kids look up to him.

Haywood — who said he knows Morant personally — is so passionate about it, he wants to address Ja directly about it all … and mentioned he might be going to Memphis on behalf of the league to talk some sense into him.

Despite his strong stance, Haywood believes Morant can turn it around and put the drama behind him.

A soccer coach who a California family says was the last person who had contact with their dead son is a person of interest in the boy’s disappearance and was arrested on an unrelated sexual assault case … TMZ has confirmed.

Missing 13-year-old boy Oscar Omar Hernandez was found dead in a ditch earlier this week in Oxnard and his family says he was last seen with his soccer coach, 43-year-old Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino.

Our law enforcement sources tell us … Aquino was questioned by cops and was arrested … but not for Oscar’s death or disappearance.

Aquino is facing one count of assault with intent to commit another felony, which prosecutors allege was the attempted rape, sodomy or oral copulation of a man for the 2024 sexual assault case … according to NBC4, which was first to report Aquino’s arrest.

The alleged sexual assault reportedly went down in February 2024 … with LASD’s Special Victims Bureau investigating.

Oscar’s body was found in Oxnard but he’s from the San Fernando Valley in L.A.

The Connecticut donut shop under fire — mostly by trolls — after Blake Lively worked a shift without wearing a hairnet is cleared of any health code violations, TMZ has learned.

According to a Wilton Health Department document, which TMZ has seen, Rise Doughnut — a small mom-and-pop biz — was investigated after an “anonymous” complaint, and officials found zero violations. No fine was issued and the case is officially closed.

The department visit was trigged after people online were pissed Blake didn’t put on a hair net, hat or tie back her hair while working and serving up the treats — and as a result, they trolled the shop’s Yelp page. And, at least one person filed an official complaint.

The barrage of negative reviews became so abusive — left by people from all around the country — the shop’s Yelp Page had to be temporarily disabled, with Yelp explaining they’re investigating “whether the content you see here reflects actual consumer experiences rather than the recent events.”

While some people might have had a legit bone to pick for sanitary concerns … it’s safe to assume others were simply hating on Blake because of her ongoing legal war with Justin Baldoni.

A source close to Blake told us … “The so-called complaints are from people who have never been there and who don’t even live in Connecticut. Targeting a lovely, small, family-owned business is a new low in the retaliation campaign.”