Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant received a 25-game suspension after live streaming himself holding, what appears to be, a firearm on Instagram live on May 13.
“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement.
This comes after Silver said in a press conference before the start of the 2023 NBA Finals that he had “uncovered more information” about the situation, announcing Morant’s punishment would be finalized after the Nuggets-Heat Finals series. With the series over and Denver winning their first title, with the help of Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, many were unsure how long the 23-year-old would be out for at the start of next season.
The NBA announced Friday that Morant “wielded the firearm while knowing that he was being recorded and that the recording was being live streamed on Instagram Live,” despite promising not to repeat his past action that led to a March 4 suspension.
Silver stated, “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.”
“For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time. Prior to his return to play, he will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior.”
The National Basketball Players Association called the ban “excessive and inappropriate,” citing its length and “unstated conditions,” with NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tamaglio.
For the March 4 incident, Morant was already not allowed to participate in team activities and did so without pay, and now less than three months later, did something similar to warrant the suspension again. The first live stream that got him in trouble from the league at Shotgun Willie’s strip club in Glendale, Colorado.
Morant apologized to the Grizzlies and the NBA publicly in his own statement for his most recent incident, saying he takes “full accountability” for the situation.
He also attended a short counseling program in Florida before rejoining the Grizzlies after the eight games, to then have another incident of the same nature occur in the same way a few months later.
Morant’s latest suspension also came after the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee sent police to his home for a welfare check on May 24, after he shared concerning messages on his Instagram Story, which were later deleted.
Claudia Jordan on The Breakfast Club reported earlier this month that she heard from Morant’s camp that the weapon shown in the second gun video was a toy, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he believed the 23-year-old would serve a “significant suspension.”
Silver addressed that rumor a few days later on The Dan Patrick Show, and questioned if it should even matter “whether the gun was real.” The commissioner also confirmed to Dan Patrick that during the first incident, Morant was “waving an actual gun in a club while inebriated and live-streaming it.”
For the first suspension, Silver did meet with Morant back in March, and according to Silver, “fully owned it,” as Morant told him “I made a terrible mistake and will learn from the mistake.”
Maybe a new change of scenery could be good if and when the Grizzlies All-Star is reinstated, as there has been speculation on potential trade teams. It was also expected to be worse, as ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said Friday on First Take.
“I think the Grizzlies, those around the NBA, were bracing for the possibility it could have been even more,” he said. m“But 25 games is significant certainly to start the season. At least for Memphis now they know they can start their off-season planning with the understanding of how long they will be without Ja Morant.”
Morant’s reinstatement back into the NBA will have to meet certain criteria set forth by Silver.
