Not so good news for Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies star has to deal with even more consequences following his second gun-flashing incident.
ESPN Senior insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported this Friday morning that Morant has been suspended for the team’s next couple of games. He tweeted, “BREAKING: Ja Morant has been suspended for the first 25 games of the upcoming season.” The athlete will miss more than a quarter of the season and will not be eligible for any end-of-season awards, per reports.
The NBA officially announced the news in a statement and confirmed his suspension will be without pay for “conduct detrimental to the league.” The statement explained, “Morant posed with a firearm in a car during a live-streamed video on May 13, less than two months after he was suspended eight games without pay for the live streaming of a video on March 4 in which he displayed a firearm while in an intoxicated state at a Denver area nightclub.”
The league office found that, on May 13, Morant intentionally and prominently displayed a gun while in a car with several other individuals as they were leaving a social gathering in Memphis. Morant wielded the firearm while knowing that he was being recorded and that the recording was being live-streamed on Instagram Live, despite having made commitments to the NBA and public statements that he would not repeat the conduct for which he was previously disciplined. On May 16, Morant issued a statement taking full accountability for his actions.
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Morant’s suspension begins immediately and will remain in effect through the first 25 games of the 2023-24 NBA regular season for which he is otherwise eligible and able to play. He will also be required to meet certain conditions before he returns to play and will be ineligible to participate in any public league or team activities, including preseason games, during the course of his suspension.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also commented on Morant’s latest suspension in the same statement:
“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,” Silver said. “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.” Silver suggested that Morant should “take a seat back.”
More On Ja Morant’s 2nd Gun Flashing Incident
As we previously reported, just two months after the Memphis Grizzlies star was suspended for flashing a firearm on social media, the guard found himself in the same hot waters by brandishing a gun in another video back in May.
Of course, he received even more heavy backlash for his reckless actions. However, he did release an apology owning up to it. He said at the time,
“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me. 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 responsibility for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”
Ja Morant’s New Statement Following His 25 Game Suspension:
Ja Morant statement: pic.twitter.com/KJCxTVEIRj
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2023,
Although his latest suspension may seem like a harsh punishment to some, he’s lucky he’ll still be able to play and keep his professional career. Per the statement, Morant will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league before returning.
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