Ja Morant might be fortunate to have only received an eight-game suspension from the NBA due to his off-the-court misbehavior, but he will still be a good amount lighter in the pocket as a result. He could end up being a lot lighter in the pocket when all is said and done.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus reported this week that the NBA’s eight-game suspension for the Memphis Grizzlies star will ultimately cost him $668,639. Pincus notes that the NBA fines players 1/145th of their season salary for each game they are suspended. Morant is making $12.1 million this season.
While $668,639 is nothing at which to scoff, that number might just be the tip of the iceberg by the end of the campaign. Morant could indirectly lose close to $40 million if the suspension ends up costing him a spot on the All-NBA team. The Grizzlies guard has played in 53 games this season and will only be able to play in an absolute maximum of 65 contest. That maximum is assuming no injuries and no further missteps.
With news that Ja Morant has entered counseling in Florida, it's hard to imagine him making All-NBA, which I think would have been likely without these incidents. Not making All-NBA would cost him about $39 million, reducing his contract from a projected 5/$233m to 5/$194m
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) March 14, 2023
The 23-year-old Morant spoke on the gun incident in an interview this week and has been seeking help for his behavior.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!