Grizzlies suspend Ja Morant as NBA investigates social media video

As Wynston Wilcox of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes, Morant appeared to brandish a gun in a new Instagram Live video that went viral on Sunday morning (video link).

The incident comes just over two months after Morant flashed a gun at a Colorado strip club in an Instagram Live video. That video, which immediately prompted an investigation from the NBA, eventually led to an eight-game suspension.

League spokesperson Mike Bass issued a statement today nearly identical the one he put out on March 4 when Morant’s video from Colorado surfaced: “We are aware of the social media post involving Ja Morant and are in the process of gathering more information.”

Morant’s live stream in March was part of a series of troubling off-court incidents allegedly involving the 23-year-old, who punched a 17-year-old during a pickup game last summer, was 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.

Morant didn’t face any criminal charges for the March incident and almost certainly won’t face any for this video either, but the NBA has significant leeway to penalize its players for conduct it deems detrimental to the league.

During Morant’s hiatus from the Grizzlies in March, he attended a counseling program in Florida and met with Commissioner Adam Silver. When Silver announced an eight-game suspension for the Memphis guard, he referred to Morant’s behavior as “irresponsible, reckless, and potentially very dangerous,” but said that Ja “expressed sincere contrition and remorse” and made it clear that he learned from the incident.

Given that context, it seems likely that Morant will face a harsher penalty from the league this time around for repeating the behavior that earned him his previous suspension.

On the court, Morant was his usual productive self for the Grizzlies in 2022-23, averaging 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game in 61 contests (31.9 MPG). His five-year, maximum-salary extension with Memphis, projected to be worth $194.3M, will go into effect beginning in 2023-24.

The Grizzlies won 51 games and finished second in the Western Conference, but saw their season come to a disappointing end with a first-round loss to the No. 7 Lakers. Following Memphis’ elimination, Morant spoke about a need to “be better with my decision-making” and to avoid “off-the-court issues.”