Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended for 25 games by the NBA following his second offense of flashing guns on social media. The suspension comes after a second video of Morant displaying a handgun was posted online, following an earlier eight-game suspension in March for a similar incident in a strip club in the Denver area.
Morant, a two-time All-Star, stands to lose over $300,000 per game, totaling approximately $7.5 million. The NBA emphasized that such reckless behavior with guns will not be tolerated and expressed concern about the potential influence on young people. During his suspension, Morant will be ineligible to participate in any public league or team activities, including preseason games.
The Memphis Grizzlies had already suspended Morant indefinitely from team activities when the second video emerged, and they stated that they respect the NBA’s punishment for this latest incident. Morant issued another apology to the league, his team, teammates, the city of Memphis, and his sponsors, acknowledging his failure as a role model and expressing a commitment to improvement.
While the NBA Players Association (NBPA) believes the punishment to be excessive, Nike, Morant’s sponsor, expressed support for his accountability and well-being. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the severity of the consequences, even without criminal charges, particularly in the context of gun violence and Morant’s influential status as a popular player.
Morant’s suspension likely means he will not be eligible for end-of-season awards in 2024, such as MVP and All-NBA. Additionally, he may miss the league’s inaugural in-season tournament if it takes place as expected. Before returning to the NBA, Morant will have to complete a program addressing the underlying issues that led to his repeated misconduct.