The Grizzlies announced Saturday that Ja Morant will be away from the team for at least two games, but his absence could last much longer than that, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Speaking to reporters before Sunday night’s contest in Los Angeles, coach Taylor Jenkins said there’s no set length for how long the embattled point guard will be out of action.
“We have said that it’s going to be at least these two games,” Jenkins said. “I mean, this is going be an ongoing healing process. … It’s really not a timetable situation.”
Morant’s latest controversy began with an Instagram Live video that appears to show him waiving a gun around while shirtless at a strip club at 5:19 am Saturday. It’s the latest in a string of incidents that have caused many to question Morant’s off-the-court behavior.
Morant issued an apology for the video Saturday afternoon while announcing that he was going to “take some time away to get help.” He also deactivated his Instagram and Twitter accounts, which he had been using frequently to promote his business interests and interact with fans.
“We’re taking this very seriously,” Jenkins said. “There’s a supportive element for someone that’s got to get better and needs some help. But then there’s also accountability to the team that we’ve got to stand for.
“Obviously nationwide, leaguewide, there’s been a lot of attention on gun violence, and so for us, that’s the stance that we’ve taken about how we can support Ja throughout this growth opportunity. It’s a learning opportunity, and hopefully we can be better from it.”
On Sunday, the Grizzlies played their first game since Morant stepped away, squandering a big fourth quarter lead in a loss to the Clippers. Afterward, players expressed support for their teammate, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
“We’re wrapping our arms around him and showing him our love,” said Desmond Bane, who scored 30 points Sunday and took over more ball-handling responsibilities with Morant not in the lineup. “Whenever he is ready to come back, we’ll welcome him with open arms.”
Jenkins is also counting on Jaren Jackson Jr. to help make up for Morant’s lost production, Cole adds. The All-Star big man took 18 shots Sunday and finished with 24 points.
“I’m happy for whatever he decides to do,” Jackson said. “I trust his judgment. He’s doing what’s best for him. He’s going to come back and take over the league again.”
I foresee a big suspension being handed down by the NBA…50+ games possibly…Adam needs to bring the hammer down.
Arenas was suspended for a year, right? This, while a horrible and dumb act, It seems to me that it is a less serious situation. So a 25/35 games suspensions seems ok.
Arenas got about half a season. Happened in January, so he and Crittendon were suspended for the remained of that campaign. That was obviously a much worse incident than what Ja did, so I can’t imagine his will be that long.
Gun on a plane not serious?
Not as serious as two players threatening each other with guns in a locker room, no.
That many games would be a joke. I’m thinking 5-10 games.
It’s not going to be that Draconian. He didn’t threaten anyone directly. The Arenas/Crittendon incident was obviously far worse.
Rest of the regular season would seem to be the most logical (and appropriate) response. Long enough to send a message, not long enough to impact the playoffs (and the league’s bottom line).
Or they could include the playoffs too, but I’m a little skeptical that happens at this point. Then again, with so many recent incidents under his belt, the league could want to go bigger here. And there’s no bigger punishment than missing playoff games. Perhaps they should make it long enough to wipe out the first round?
Season ending, great player, kids look up to him, needs to learn a tough lesson.
The biggest problem that Ja Morant might be facing right now is whether or not he brought the gun on the team plane. He just finished a game at Denver, and hit the club afterward. The team was headed to Los Angeles. Did he bring gun on team plane for trip to Denver? Did he bring gun on team plane for trip to Los Angeles?
If he brought the gun on the team plane ….. He is done for the rest of the season. You cannot do that. The NBA has strict rules on this. The penalty will be severe. This is why they don’t know when Ja will return. The NBA is in the process of determining if he brought the gun on the plane. NBA players must register with the league any firearms that they own at the conclusion of every season. He could potentially have more violations here if he didn’t register his weapons with the league.
Complete knucklehead!!
I haven’t thought of it that way, but you are right. That make things worse.
It’ll probably be “Oh, I just bought it at a licensed gun shop after the game…on my way to the club.” Or, the more popular, “It wasn’t my piece…someone at the club just handed it to me.”
I prefer “it was a prop gun” with no firing pin.
Morant needs to cut ties with this group of losers he hangs out with. Its a tough lesson to learn but leaving bad friends behind is a good thing. We were all his age once and had idiots we knew that years later never grew up. He just doesn’t want to be stuck with them.
Maybe those “losers” need to cut ties with him. He might be the problem! He’s the one flashing guns and beating up kids
Seems like it’s both. He’s got the wrong people around him (including his dad, sadly) and he himself either doesn’t recognize it or is one of the worst of them.
There is 0 need for him to bring his entourage around to games especially on the road. Focus on the game. Third time this season he had a entourage on the road that got him in trouble. I don’t hear other young players with the same problem
I feel like the NBA will be more lenient on Morant than he probably deserves in this because he himself chose to step away from the team for the course of the investigation. They may count however many games he misses as part of the suspension.
He is a high-flying superstar we should give him a break
Adam Silver once again goes hiding when there’s tough decisions to be made. He’s never met a camera he didn’t like when there’s easy social justice moves to make but he seems to want to be pals with the players and not lay down the law. Silver is probably more worried about eyeing that Disney job
Ja Morant – threatens gun violence on Twitter, has multiple allegations about his “beefs” with minors, flashing guns on social media for status. What does he get? A new Nike deal? A new powerade deal? Compassion from the media?
Kyrie Irving – tweets a link to a movie. What does he get?
That’s capitalism for you, for better or (usually) worse.
Thing that got me was this was same night
BC tore his Achilles
And Brooks tried to check the GOAT
Figure out that culture my grizz fam!
Also next time say it’s just a pistol shaped lighter !!
He must’ve watched 8 mile and wanted to be papa doc. Same scenario. Grew up middle
Class, parents were there and went to private school. Trying to be hard. Trying that thug life. I just don’t get it.
I get it, but he’s still an idiot regardless. You don’t risk everything in an attempt to be hard, especially in this day and age where everything eventually comes to light.
He needs to stick to GTA V to get his kicks. He can be as hard as he wants there.
Ja you ain’t no thug, you grew up in some hick town population 8000. You aren’t street and never will be.
Adam Sliver really has killed this league
Agree, Silver is part of the entitlement issue.