The Memphis Grizzlies have indefinitely suspended Ja Morant from the team after he appeared on social media holding a gun once again. There may be more significant action taken by the NBA in response.
During his pre-NBA Finals news conference, Commissioner Adam Silver stated that his office had found ‘a fair amount of additional information’ on Morant that would have led to a decision already if it were not for the playoffs.
Silver did not go into detail but said that the decision will be announced after the Finals, and an individual player’s history is considered while determining discipline, which may not bode well for Morant
Earlier this year, the All-Star was suspended by the league for eight games after going on Instagram live with a handgun at a strip club. This followed reports of multiple gun-related incidents involving Morant.
The initial suspension was presented by the Grizzlies and the NBA as an opportunity for Morant to work on his mental health, something he addressed himself upon returning. Silver described Morant’s behavior following the initial suspension as expressing ‘sincere contrition and remorse for his behavior.’
Despite this, it appears that Morant has not learned his lesson and was suspended indefinitely by the team a second time for another gun-related incident.
Morant issued an apology statement and a series of cryptic Instagram posts, which raised concerns to the point that police officers were sent to his home to check on his welfare. In response to Morant’s latest incident, Silver appeared on television and said he was ‘shocked,’ he also promised another NBA investigation.
Silver has conceded that Morant’s initial punishment may have been too light given what happened subsequently. Regardless, Silver and the NBPA still want to support Morant and better his circumstances going forward.
Morant’s future with the team, and the league in general, is unclear, but it’s likely that his second suspension will be significantly longer than eight games. The Player’s Association and the Grizzlies are hoping for a change in Morant’s behavior. Only time will tell if Morant will be able to rehabilitate his image and move past his troubled past with guns.
