Ja Morant is facing a “lengthy suspension” after his latest gun incident, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said Sunday on “NBA Countdown” (video link). A video in which the Grizzlies guard appeared to brandish a firearm showed up on Instagram Sunday morning. The footage could have lasting effects for both Morant and his team.
Wojnarowski notes that commissioner Adam Silver showed “restraint” during a similar incident in early March when Morant posted a video of himself holding a gun at Denver-area strip club. Woj adds that Silver met with Morant before announcing an eight-game suspension and “took him at his word that he would make better decisions.” Silver is expected to handle the situation differently this time, particularly with owners concerned about how Morant’s actions affect the image of the NBA.
“I sense already today that Adam Silver’s going to feel increasing pressure from other teams in the league who see this, as much as it impacts the Grizzlies, that it impacts them and their ability to market their players and their teams,” Wojnarowski said.
The league will investigate the video to make sure it wasn’t “doctored” before taking any action, Wojnarowski adds.
There’s more on Morant and the reaction to the latest video:
- Morant’s “transcendent talent and the seemingly endless marketing possibilities” affected the judgment of everyone involved in handling the first case, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. He adds that the Grizzlies approached the situation with “a classic small-market culture” of a team that was concerned about upsetting its star player. Amick states that Morant has wasted the opportunity to learn from his mistakes by not changing his inner circle, getting away from the gun culture and accepting the responsibility that’s part of being an admired public figure.
- Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated points out that the eight-game suspension likely cost Morant an All-NBA designation, which would have guaranteed an extra $40MM in salary through a super-max contract. Despite the financial implications, the meeting with Silver, a visit to a counseling center in Florida and a contrite interview with Jalen Rose, Morant doesn’t seem to have been moved to change his behavior, Mannix adds.
- Morant’s expected suspension will change the Grizzlies’ offseason in several ways, per Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal. Memphis likely won’t try to trade Tyus Jones, who has an expiring contract and has become one of the league’s best backup point guards, Cole states, because he’ll be needed while Morant is inactive. That limits the team’s options for an upgrade at small forward. Cole also contends that Desmond Bane needs to become the Grizzlies’ leader now that Morant has shown he’s not able to handle the role.
Guess Morant would rather hold a gun than 40 million bucks. Complete moron. For once I totally agree with Kwame Brown. Having Kwame Brown call you a dumb MFer is like having OJ Simpson call you a murderer.
This is not about Ja Morant. This is about the dis-advantaged young kids living in poverty. It’s about the lack of recognizable AA role models beyond sports/entertainment. It’s about the daily gun violence deaths, that inflict the inner cities. It’s about kids who grow up disillusioned thinking their only future is in the NBA or NFL, 12 year olds packing on the way to the basketball courts. Nike send a GD message. Grizzlies ownership, send a GD message. NBA send a GD message. Get rid of this deluded, dangerous clown, as maybe he thinks he’s having fun with his homies…but who pays the price. Some kid, in a disadvantaged hood, who thinks it cool, gets shot in the head by some other wannabe gangsta, reinforced its AOK by yaya ja ya. Make an example out of him. Which communities suffer the most gun violence deaths? If sports/entertainment are the only people aspired to be, they CANNOT be dangerous punks like ja!
Having worked in the inner city for 30+ years, there is a great deal of validity to what you say here. No doubt.
It’s strange that some talented young athletes in such circumstances are blessed to hook up with mentors who in turn use a great deal of people management and place the youngster in positive situations and with positive groups of people
Seems to me though that over the past decade or so, those types of mature, wise, patient and strong adults are fewer and farther between, replaced by guys who simply enjoy getting a piece of the fame and fortune, and pushing the athlete into many poor choices
I understand that Morant has no one to blame but himself, but I can’t help feeling a bit of disappointment that no one was apparently ever able to grab this kid and guide him in the right direction
Lmao! Man whatever. Talk to this kid’s parents. Can’t blame the rappers, athletes, and actors. I despite their actions but you are taking it too far.
I think MEM will not trade him, but if im them i will explore the possibility of moving him. The team has a better winrate without him these last two seasons.
It’s sad that he is such a moron.
It would be hard to trade him anyways especially with the report in this article that says “increasing pressure from other teams in the league who see this, as much as it impacts the Grizzlies”
People shouldn’t overlook the important distinction that the first video was illegal and this one isn’t. It’s not a crime to have a gun in a private vehicle. Technically he didn’t break the law this time, assuming the gun itself is legal.
That being said, posting another gun video 2 months after being suspended for posting a gun video is clearly the dumbest possible decision he could make. And if NBA has specific rules against this then he deserves whatever punishment he gets.
You’re right, it’s not illegal. That’s why no one is pressing charges and the law isn’t involved.
An NBA suspension is not the same as being arrested. Not sure why you felt a need to differentiate between the two?
It’s not against recorded policy by the NBA either. NBA themselves even said so. I already proven that. Where’s my money???
Dude has already proven all sorts of stuff.
Super impressive, all this proven this dude does.
I differentiated the two because I wanted to. Same as every other comment on any article that gets written because the writer felt like writing it.
And because the incident 2 months ago was illegal and yet people are treating the 2 incidents as identical.
It was not illegal. Hence why police have filed no charges And the owner of the club filed no charges. Colorado is an open carry state.
It has nothing to do with legality
The NBA has specific rules on anything a player can do that hurts their image. He agreed to that when he signed the contract.
Wrong. I already proven that. Try again.
“you already proven that”
Ok, proven it again because I missed when you provened it before. You always proven so many things it’s hard to keep track of what you’ve provened.
Adjectives and verbs are hard.
.
Haha Mr. “Quotations” wants to talk about grammar? Ahahaha. Try again.
You haven’t “proven” anything. They don’t need a policy specifically stating you can’t you can’t do whatever, because they have the ability to suspend players for conduct detrimental to the league.
Dude, pay attention he already proven it.
He represents the league and the team. Both billion dollar operations. That’s the problem
Don’t understand how someone can be so stupid. I have guns myself, but I would never in my life think about just taking it out and waving around for no reason. Like what is even the point of that? He’s not been threatened in any of these situations. He’s just tryna be a wanna be gangster and literally no one on the planet thinks it’s cool.
I do it’s money and fame they think they can get away with anything because of that
“They” is interesting word choice here wouldn’t you say?
It was a reference of being famous not color to take it any other way is pathetic
Ppl in that situation try to get away with things that are cool, literally no one outside his circle of dumb friends thinks it’s cool and that should’ve been made obvious to him by now
does the 2nd amendment not exist anymore? “lengthy suspension” for owning a gun, this seems weird
He is hurting the NBA image, investors will run away from the league if the NBA allows those “gangsta’s lifestyle”.
Morant represents MEM and the league, they can and they will suspend him.
What about anti-American lifestyles such as “taking a knee”? I guess it’s subjective as to what a proper “image” is.
1st Amendment is as important as the 2nd here. If he has this firearm legally there should be no problem. No threats made. Not pointing it aimlessly or at someone. You people have a crazy fear of an object that only is dangerous in the wrong hands. If he had a steak knife in his hand… Talk about a brainwashed society.
Dude, it’s about money. You’re the one brainwashed if you don’t see that.
Norway, Italy, Israel, and Switzerland all have high levels of gun ownership. But they don’t face constant mass shootings, because they have rules that govern it. The US doesn’t. That’s the difference. I don’t care if people want to own guns. But they have to actually prove that they’re qualified to use something that dangerous, the same way people have to prove they can drive a car to get a license.
Also, if peaceful protest is unamerican, then I’m ashamed of my country. The US wouldn’t even exist if the absolute fealty to an ideal was the law of the land.
Eon ^
Don’t know what that means.
Im gonna take a guess and say that a gun in Morants hands are the wrong hands
“gangsta lifestyle”. If he was white, would you write the same thing? Sounds kinda racist to me.
Not ‘owning’ you dip
Given the mass gun violence occurring daily in the US, it’s probably not a good look for the NBA to allow a star player to wave around a gun to “look cool”
Guns are not causing violence! It’s the person holding the gun!
Guns don’t cause violence enable the person holding it to cause more damage at a much more effective rate.
So instead of guns, they kill with machetes, knives, etc. Do you think there is no murder in the UK with it’s laws? Ignorance must be bliss in your world with your view of reality.
My ignorance? The murder rate in every other civilized 1st world country is far below the rate in the U.S.
The reality in aMurica? The guns have more rights than kids! Where there’s more mass shootings than days in the year. Who cares how many kids die as long as I have my rights to bear arms.
He’s not getting suspended for owning a gun. Normally I side with players but I’d stick it to this clown if I was the owner. Some type of suspension that saves me some money. This level of stupidity effects the team dynamic
all what he is doing he having his gun, the only crime being commited is that the driver is activly filimg with his phone while driving.
SMH has 0 to do with 2nd amendment. It has to do with being a role model and following rules. If you have a need to show off guns you are not a gun owner but somebody with low self esteem to feel important.
Amendments dont prevent companies from having rules or suspending people who break them.
This. Amendments regulate the US government. Nothing else.
Does moronant look like a responsable gun owner to you Stevie wonder ?
I have no reason to assume either way, Im just viewing the video here
It’s less that he has one it’s how he’s using it I mean look at the to videos at what point should there ever be a need for the weapon in them
He isn’t suspended for owning a gun.
if your local weatherman put up a video on tiktok of him in a car waving a gun around he would be fired.
Same vibe. Not complicated.
well morant isnt brodcasting himself, hes being shot in a video by a person driving the car. Where is the falk for the guy filiming, hes just casually using his phone while hes driving a car. He should be suspended
Ok dude. If your local weatherman had a friend who put up a video on tiktok of him in a car waving a gun around he would be fired.
Same vibe. Not complicated.
Better?
It’s not for owning a gun, if you were a responsible gun owner yourself you’d know the number one rule is don’t point your gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot. His stupidity hurts the NBA’s image, it’s clearly not about simply owning a gun.
Cubswin, please explain how Morant’s 2nd Amendment rights are being violated here.
It’s meaningless when you sign a contract with a global company that wants a nice family image…
Violence tarnishes that image…
I feel like the previous suspension was Silver saying “shape up, or else”. That incident was far from the first time he did pulled some dumb crap, after all. And since Morant decided to make the exact same mistake a second time, now he gets the else.
Silver is going to suspend him 16 games this time which is the equivalent of a life sentence in the Silver Era NBA
I think they suspend him for at least 40 games if not the whole season
I’ll believe it when I see it. If this was Stern it would be a year with Silver unless it a GM openly admitting to tanking he barely punishes anyone.
Lol wannabe thug. Absolutely pathetic
When a black man has a gun, it’s always they a “wannabe thug.”
When a white man like Chris Kaman has a gun, it’s always “mer the 2nd amendment, mer!!!”
The two events you keep trying to compare to make your point aren’t remotely the same.
He already proven it.
@Kurtis
Normally I’d agree with you, but this ain’t it. You are reaching on this one. He is literally trying to be a thug. Jamming Youngboy and flashing a pistol. What else’s do you think he’s doing? A popular TikTok dance?
That’s the problem, you basing it off of opinion and narrative. And those things are subjective, it all needs to come down to action in order to fair and impartial.
Basing it off opinion is narrative is like Joe Mazzula saying he didn’t intend to lose. Like it don’t matter the intention, you still lost.
Again you only trying to say he “trying to be a thug” cause he black. I ain’t heard no one say Kyle Rittenhouse is trying to be a thug.
I’ll say it. Rittenhouse thought that rifle would make him tough. He’s a wannabe thug. I know, you want “thug” to be racist so you can continue to defend this idiot.
@ Kurtis
No if it was a white guy jamming Youngboy and flashing a gun I’d say the same thing. The rappers refer to themselves as thugs too.
If he was on a horse with a lasso I’d say he wants to be a cowboy.
Again you are reaching on this one
This is obviously personnel for A. silver. Ja must have slept with his wife.
Personnel?
He already proven he can’t spell “personal”
Yes, Ja is technically league personnel lol.
Here’s a tip, Kurtis. No game on tonight. Why don’t you visit the library? Pick up a book or two. It won’t hurt you.
This is obviously personal for you too, Kurtis. You keep defending Ja like he has you on a retainer. Lol
Ja Moron
It’s Dillion Brooks fault
Who said they needed a SF at the beginning of the year…. Me. I told you all so again
Cool brag, but no one has any idea what you’re talking about.
The majority of the leagues “role models” are rappers who glorify sex, drugs and violence and most of all, themselves. So this whole shock and awe thing about him is funny. Of course he loves this stuff, it’s what he’s been programmed to love.
Latest on Ja Morant: Yep, still stupid.
Ja Morant could be making the lives of other NBA players harder with his idea of looking tough…
The whole dress code was brought in because of a few bad apples… Then every player had to look like a penguin…
The owners don’t want the image of their brands tarnished by this culture born out of insecurity…