NBA gives Grizzlies star Ja Morant 25-game suspension after second gun video incident
The NBA has announced that Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant has been suspended 25 games after a second gun incident.
Morant's suspension comes after a clip surfaced on May 14 from an Instagram Live video streamed from the account of Morant's friend, Davante Pack. In the video, Morant is seen brandishing a gun.
“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,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “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."
This was the second time in a matter of months Morant has been suspended for appearing on an Instagram Live video while flashing a gun. The first incident came on March 4 when he went on Instagram Live and flashed a gun while at a Denver-area nightclub. He was suspended eight games for conduct detrimental to the league.
During Morant's initial suspension, he pledged to be better off the floor and entered a counseling program in Florida. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins was among the people who said after the season he had been encouraged about Morant's progress upon returning to the team.
"We respect the League’s decision to suspend Ja Morant following this latest episode." the Grizzlies said in a statement. "Our standards as a league and team are clear, and we expect that all team personnel will adhere to them."
General manager and president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman was also pleased with Morant's progress since March. Morant declared that he'd be more humble in postgame interviews and work on his off-the-court discipline in the offseason. The Grizzlies star released a statement two days after the second Instagram Live video surfaced, and then again on Friday morning after the news of his suspension.
"I've had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I've caused," Morant said in a statement. "I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis. To Adam Silver, Zach Kleiman and Robert Pera -- who gave me the opportunity to be a professional athlete and have supported me -- I'm sorry for the harm I've done. To the kids who look up to me, I'm sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I'm going to be better. To all my sponsors, I'm going to be a better representation of our brands. And to all my fans, I'm going to make it up to you, I promise."
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Silver spoke during the NBA Finals on multiple occasions about how the league planned to handle Morant's latest incident. Silver noted that additional information had been discovered and later added that the league wanted to make sure it helped Morant move past these off-court issues, in addition to disciplining him for conduct detrimental to the league.
As expected, Morant must meet conditional thresholds before returning to play.
“For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time," Silver said. "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.”
Morant was also involved in a fight with high school basketball player Joshua Holloway during a pick-up basketball game at Morant's Eads home last July. Morant and Holloway are currently embroiled in a civil lawsuit over the matter, although no criminal charges were filed.
Morant also allegedly threatened a shoe store employee and a mall security guard last July during an altercation at Wolfchase Galleria's Finish Line. In January, Morant's associates were involved in an altercation with the Indiana Pacers' traveling party in the FedExForum loading dock. The Pacers claimed that a laser was pointed at them from a car Morant entered. The league's subsequent investigation could not corroborate whether there was a gun involved.
It remains to be seen how Morant's suspension will impact the Grizzlies this offseason. Tyus Jones is entering the final season of a two-year deal, and he's considered one of the best backup point guards in the NBA. Since the Grizzlies are in need of a starting small forward, that makes him an ideal player who could be traded to a team in need of a starting point guard.
The suspension of Morant increases the value of Jones, who has led the Grizzlies to a 32-13 record over the past two seasons as a starter. That's a win percentage on par with 58 victories over a course of an 82-game season.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant suspension: NBA gives Grizzlies star 25 games for gun video
