Well this is definitely not good. As expected, NBA star Ja Morant is currently facing consequences for flashing a gun on social media… for the second time.
As previously reported, the Memphis Grizzlies have suspended him from all team activities after an IG Live showed the star guard holding a gun while rapping to a song with a friend. The Grizzlies announced the suspension over the weekend and said the league is pending a review of the incident. “We are aware of the social media post involving Ja Morant and are in the process of gathering more information,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass previously said.
Morant who was suspended by the NBA in March over a similar incident did release a statement to apologize for his latest actions. He said, “I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” Morant said in a statement via ESPN. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.” Despite that, it looks like he’s about to have a tough wake-up call. While many are speculating his future with the NBA, sports fans have noticed that Morant’s Hunger Ja 1 sneakers are no longer listed on the Nike or Finish Line apps. The Hunger Ja 1s were expected to release on May 25, TMZ notes.
Now, as pointed out by many, his mismatched red and blue colorway had been listed on both the Finish Line and Nike apps earlier this week. Despite this, other retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods, and secondary resellers like StockX and Flight Club still have Ja 1s up for sale.
What Is Ja Morant’s Future Looking Like In The NBA?
The 23-year-old had a lot going for himself. As the New York Post reports, he signed an extension with Memphis last summer up to at least 25% of the salary cap at $192.2 million. While there has been no word on if he would be cut from the team or get another slap on the wrist, NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke candidly on ESPN last week and confirmed that the league is in the process of investigating the video and he is “assuming the worst.”
“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw this weekend — that video,” Silver told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “Now, we’re in the process of investigating it, and we’ll figure out exactly what happened to the best we can. Again, the video’s a bit grainy and all that but I’m assuming the worst. But we’ll figure out exactly what happened there.”
Breaking things down even more, Silver explained, “The consequences there, an 8-game suspension, was pretty serious and something that he — at least to me — seemed to take incredibly seriously in that time. I mean we spoke for a long time about, not just the consequences that could have on his career but the safety issues around it. Could have injured, maimed, killed himself, someone else with an act like that. And also the acknowledgment that he’s a star, he has an incredibly huge following, and that my concern — and I thought one he shared with me — that millions, if not tens of millions, of kids globally would see him as having done something that was celebrating in a way, that act of sort of using a firearm in that fashion. So I at least was left with the sense that he was taking this incredibly seriously.”
Socialites, where do you see things going for Ja Morant following his latest incident? Sound off in the comment box below!