3:31pm: Morant has issued the following statement, via his agency Tandem Sports + Entertainment (Twitter link):
“I take full responsibility for my actions last night. I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis, and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down. I’m going to take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with my stress and my overall well-being.”
1:05pm: The Grizzlies have announced in a brief press statement that star guard Ja Morant will be away from the team for at least the next two games (Twitter link). He’ll miss Sunday’s contest against the Clippers and Tuesday’s vs. the Lakers.
The Grizzlies haven’t said that Morant is suspended and didn’t offer any specific explanation for his absence. However, their statement comes shortly after the NBA announced it was investigating an Instagram Live video that appeared to show the All-Star guard flashing a gun at a strip club. It seems pretty safe to assume there’s a correlation between that news and this update.
As we outlined in our previous story, Morant has allegedly been involved in a handful of off-court incidents during the last year, with Friday’s video representing the latest.
Morant got into an altercation with a 17-year-old during a pickup game at his house last July and punched the teen several times, claiming later that it was in self-defense. He was also accused of threatening a security guard at a Memphis mall, and was reportedly involved in a confrontation with members of the Pacers’ traveling party after a January game, resulting in some of his associates being banned from the Grizzlies’ home arena.
The 17-year-old from the pickup game told police that Morant went into his house and reemerged with a gun visible in his waistband during their dispute, a claim that the Grizzlies guard’s lawyer and agent have vigorously disputed.
Members of the Pacers’ traveling party, meanwhile, alleged that someone in a slow-moving SUV (in which Morant was riding) trained a red laser on them during that January incident, with some individuals believing that laser was attached to a gun.
Even if both of those allegations were false, Morant had found himself under a harsher spotlight as of late and displayed extremely poor judgment when he brandished a gun on Friday night’s live stream.
Typically, when the league and/or a team is investigating an off-court incident, they’ll work in tandem to determine a appropriate response. It’s unclear in this case whether the NBA will defer to the Grizzlies to handle the matter or whether Morant is simply getting a leave of absence as the league continues to look into Friday’s social media video. I’d assume the latter.
This guy was the #2 overall pick and been a star since he came into the league. He made it, but keeps acting otherwise.
Ja Moron.
And temetrius parents have a real good marriage
This dude is a real treat to watch. Hope he can get it together because the NBA is a better place with him in it.
It’ll be sad if these turn out to be allegations, and have no foundation in law, and Ja Morant misses games over it. Hope the players have an avenue in their contracts for suing the NBA in such cases. I feel like there is some Shakespeare going on with the details in this axe Ja Morant sports media “story”
Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and I haven’t seen the evidence, or corroborating evidence to support Ja Morant is a careless, gun toting, narcissist yet. Still waiting, but I doubt it surfaces. Just like other claims of this nature have lacked specificity, and clarity in the past, but that never stops the media or NBA from printing lies, or suspending.
So what would it take for you to change your mind on his actions?
This take is just ignorant. There is a CBA. Even if he isn’t “convicted” of any “crimes,” he is still making the NBA look bad and, as a private organization, they absolutely have the right to suspend him for it. So no, he has no legitimate avenue to sue the NBA. If they feel so inclined, they could suspend him indefinitely and drag that out as long as they wish. He would still have no case.
By the way, he’s missing games because the NBA is investigating the gun flashing incident, not any of the other stuff. I have absolutely zero idea how he could deny this incident occurred, considering it was broadcast on Instagram Live. Things that happened, happened, and this fact cannot be denied.
Moronic take ..just let him keep acting a fool .that’s the proplem..justifying and making excuses for his actions..let’s him think he can do it over and over ..he needs to grow the hell up and people need to stop making excuses for him
There is an Instagram live of him brandishing a gun at a strip club right after he was accused of brandishing a gun at a 17 year old in a fight and his entourage using a red laser pointer potentially attached to a gun at pacer players
Brandishing a gun is legal in Tennessee.
And it’s also an accusation. Making accusations towards a multimillionaire is popular to steal money from a multimillionaire. Nothing that hasn’t been seen before.
So again, actually, what did he do wrong?
He was in Colorado last night and going to California not sure what club it was.
If it’s legal why did the police look into it.
Well the police quickly turned it down
Wtf you talking about?
He admitted he was in the wrong for what he did. So that means you need to shut up, tough guy.
Didn’t hear about this admission of guilt?
For all the incidents?
He said what he needed to say to appease people like you. That means you ignorant
*you’re ignorant
Keep making yourself look like a fool tough guy. What he did in the club was illegal.
Apparently, “hasn’t seen evidence” = sticking my head in the sand and being too lazy to do any research on the various incidents involving Ja in the recent past, including this one which has video evidence to corroborate it.
Also, this isn’t a court room so no, everyone is NOT innocent until proven guilty. We have a large enough body of work involving him to say he’s guilty of at least being a fool. But more importantly, if you make the league look bad through reckless actions, prepare to be suspended.
You ever had a job? If you put yourself in situations where you make your employers look bad, they can suspend or fire you.
“Everyone is innocent until proven guilty,”
I am constantly baffled that people keep bringing this stuff up whenever it comes to sports discipline. It means literally nothing. “Innocent” and “proof” and “guilty” and “evidence” are legal, court-room terms. They have no bearing whatsoever on how a sports league disciplines one of their employees. They have league-wide codes of conduct and team rules that they agree to follow when they sign their contracts.
Why do people bring this stuff up? “Due process” and “free speech” are two other things people always bring up when they have no relevance whatsoever to life outside of the US legal system.
Yep… “innocent until proven guilty” only applies to in a Court of Law
Go outside xmaxx
They should start by suspending Ja for all the gun stuff …. And then they should finish by suspending him for the rest of the season for flashing all the gang signs. We have to put an end to this nonsense, and the glorification of that lifestyle! Absolutely disgusting!
Make this fool the example!
Agreed
Tennessee is an open carry state. He did nothing wrong and that is pure fact
I’m sure he has a license to own it in the first place
You don’t need a license in Tennessee.
Who are you referring to that was in Tennessee? Cuz morant wasnt
Yes he was. Prove me wrong
No he wasnt. Prove me wrong.
He was at a nightclub after the game against the Nuggets.
Watching ‘tough guy” try to figure things out is one of the most amusing things on the Internet.
Haha, so your argument is that he was in Colorado, another open carry without a license star? Bwahaha. What a joke. Sorry I drop fa st. Keep Godding me!!!
My argument is that he wasn’t in Tennessee.
Then you said “Yes he was. Prove me wrong”
That’s been done. You are welcome.
Even in open carry states, you can’t bring a gun into anywhere that serves alcohol. Like a strip club.
So just shut up.
You don’t need a license to own a gun In Tennessee? So any person can just walk in to a store and buy a gun?
Edit: Y’know what, don’t bother answering, you and your idiocy are going on ignore. Get help.
it might not be is, It might not be legal, and I don’t know if you can be doing some of the things he has been doing with it
Given that the Grizzlies played in Denver last night and go to L.A. next, there’s no reason to think last night’s video stream took place anywhere in Tennessee.
The NBA also has rules about firearms in its CBA, including that a player isn’t allowed to have one while traveling with his team.
Right. And it’s irrelevant if it’s legal. It’s a bad look and as a private organization the league has the right to address it however they wish.
Weed is legal in Canada but if Scotty Barnes or Siakim live-streamed themselves smoking a big fatty I’m sure the league would have something to say about it. And rightfully so.
Bwahaha, wtf you talking about? LaMelo literally smoked a blunt on Twitter before a game.
link to youtu.be
Y’all just spewing nonsense now
Let’s say you’re right. Colorado is also an open carry state. So again, no laws broken.
Define “while traveling.” Sure if he was on the plane or bus brandishing a gun, then yes he would be in violation. But he wasnt
You must have missed the part of his comment where he says that what he did is forbidden in the CBA.
Besides, this has nothing to do with whether it’s legal or not. The NBA is looking into it, not the police.
Except it’s not against the CBA
Hmm, who should I trust, Luke Adams, or “DoDtoughguy”
Such a hard choice.
@DoDtoughGuy: “Except it’s not against the CBA”
You are wrong. You may want to read the actual language of the CBA. Bobby Marks on Twitter:
link to twitter.com
I’ll quote the relevant part for you:
“whenever a player is traveling on any NBA-related business. . .such player shall not possess a firearm of any kind. . .”
Morant was traveling (in Denver) on NBA-related business (playing in an NBA basketball game) and therefore shall not possess a firearm of any kind. Thanks for playing, buddy.
Denver County isn’t open carry. I haven’t seen anyone confirm where exactly the club was, so maybe that’s part of what the NBA is looking into (though as others have said, the league isn’t really aiming to determine whether or not any laws have been broken).
Based on the terms of the CBA, he isn’t allowed to have it at all if he’s traveling on the team plane, bus, etc., whether he’s got it out or not. I’m not saying he did have it with him while he was around the team, but it’s not as if he went home to Memphis to get it before going to the club, so where did it come from? Again, I assume that’s part of what the league is investigating.
You are completely misinformed. Open carry without license is completely illegal in the county. Now it’s possible that Denver the city itself has different laws but not the county.
You’re also misinformed about the CBA. The CBa states they must follow local laws and can not carry on NBa or Team property. Key word “carry.” So what happens with h any gunowner when they travel, it is locked up ina box on the plane or bus under control of the plane or bus, owner/manager. And then released on arrival depending on state laws.
The fact that you assuming the worst, proves my point.
You can stop writing nonstop now because you’re entirely wrong
link to sportingnews.com
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted, NBA players are not allowed to be in possession of firearms when “traveling on any NBA-related business.
There are likely legal consequences because he is an out of state resident viewed in possession of a gun. “
Not sure on the laws in Colorado, but in Texas, it is illegal to carry a gun in an establishment that sells alcohol to consume on their property. And Texas is one of the most free states in the union, especially on gun ownership. It’s likely the same where Ja was.
In both Colorado and Tennessee you are allowed to have a gun in an establishment with alcohol as long as there is no sign permitting it.
Texas is not as free as it’s perceived. It’s just the most free of the popular states
He was in Tennessee though, right? You said he was earlier.
Did I? Or you just making up fictional memories. I did say Tennessee was an open carry state. But did I say he was in TN? Nope. Thank for playing. Better luck next time. Bwahahaha!!
Keep Godding me!!!
Yeah… you did say that.
Now you’re denying it? It’s on this thread.
Do you know how to scroll up and look at your own comments?
I would guess the answer is no, but if you can somehow figure out how to do it you can see when you said Morant was in Tennessee and then hilariously asked to be proven wrong. Thanks for the good time.
sycophant
March 4, 2023
Who are you referring to that was in Tennessee? Cuz morant wasnt
DoDtoughGuy
March 4, 2023
Yes he was. Prove me wrong
“I never said he was…..”
You need to learn to communicate with people of all lifestyles. You haven’t learned that you can’t just continually pull stuff out of your butt. And then also not like being called out on it.
You keep doubling down on an original bad take that 99% of people would disagree is correct behavior.
I have spent much time in TN, knoxville area. Maryville is one of the top 10 places to live in the usa.
He wasn’t there, but every point you make seems to be wrong. Including it being against the working agreement
He isn’t a resident of Colorado so you’re wrong again. No big surprise there.
“Concealed carry permits require a firearms training course that has been state-approved. Colorado doesn’t issue non-resident permits with the exception of members of the military permanently stationed in Colorado and their immediate family members that live in the state.
link to usconcealedcarry.com.”
You can forget the league helping Memphis now. No ref help
Lose the posse
It’s bringing back Gilbert Arenas memories…
How do?
DC is a license to carry state and arenas did not have a license.
DC also has a open carry prohibition.
There was also a threat involved.
Arenas committed several crimes.
Morant was completely within the legality of Tennessee. He did nothing illegal. How is this the same?
Dillon Brooks calm down!!
The Grizz have a lot of talent
Mordant has a lot of talent
What is the issue?
Should make Morant read the Biography of Former Wr Chris Henry and read his autopsy
Appears he’s on track to be a future NRA and GOP spokesperson on gun ownership ! Star or not he needs to be dealt with harshly for his irresponsible behavior as he’s a role model to a lot of young kids and role models should not be banishing weapons haphazardly like he’s done
Everyone loves Tee Morant and hates LaVar Ball, but you don’t see the Ball kids acting like this.
They’re both bad parents…
People dont hate LaVar so much as think of him as the ultimate little league dad who will go out and tell the world LiAngelo is better than Jordan!
He is a joke thats like the biggest self promoter ever. His kids are better off now that most seem to be managing there own media and sponsorship partnerships.
Gilbert Arenas 2.0
another takeoff waiting to happen.
It’s starting to get beyond a joke with this kid…
We get it Ja… You have an inferiority complex, just like every proud gun owner…
I wouldn’t say all (at least mostly among those who purely use it for self-defense/hunting and not as a weird fetish hobby), but point taken.
Frankly, it’s almost comical how pathetic he looks in trying to act tough. Is he too dumb to realize this? Guess so.
He hanging out with blocboy
You already said morant was in Tennessee.
The Ja way:
Cause an incident involving a gun > Appolagize > Give a Grizzlies fan free gear in front of a camera > Repeat
This guy is one of the best talents in the NBA but his head isn’t all there. One day hes gonna mess with the wrong person and get some sort of life threatening injury if he keeps following this pass. Has the world in the palm of his hands and yet hes unable to enjoy the things he has. This makes a good case for forcing players to play 4 years at colllege. It’s obvious that the money and fame is too much for these young guys
Legality has nothing to do with this behavior. If you do t understand the responsibility that comes. With being a star athlete. A legit star of the NBA. Then you better learn it quick. Cause no one player, no matter how good. Is bigger than the game. Respect yourself ….
He is a thug. Much like his dad. Plain and simple
Other Q’s:
Does he travel to away games with a gun? If so, why? Is this legal? Does the NBA allow or want this?
If it is not his then who did he receive the gun from? Why?
Did he buy it in Denver that day? Why? What happens to the gun if it is his? Can he travel with it?
Is he going to places where he feels he needs a gun? Why go there? Is this something that the NBA wants?
Anybody see the movie No Country for Old Men?
Times have changed and they’re not changing back…