Adam Silver did address the latest situation involving Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant, but the NBA commissioner did not want to talk about Morant’s availability.
For now, Morant has been suspended from team activities after a second social media post surfaced in which Morant brandished a gun. He has not yet been officially punished by the NBA.
Again, Silver would not say what punishment from the league may be forthcoming.
“We’ve uncovered a fair amount of additional information,” Silver told reporters at the NBA Finals in Denver. “We probably could have brought it to a head now, but we’ve made the decision that it would be unfair to these players and these teams to announce that decision in the middle of this series (between the Nuggets and Heat).”
Beyond that, Silver seemed to be at a loss.
“I don’t think we yet know what it will take to change his behavior,” he said.
League sources have told Hoops Wire they think Morant could be suspended for half a season (41 games) or more. He was suspended for the first infraction for eight games after meeting with Silver in March.
Along with meeting with Silver, Morant underwent a series of steps to become eligible to play again this past season. Another meeting with Silver likely awaits.
“We talked directly about the consequences first,” Silver told ESPN. “Before we got to a subsequent potential to have done something wrong, we were very focused on the misconduct that was in front of us at the time. Frankly, most of our conversation was about how incredibly serious the first incident was of waving a firearm on social media.
“Again, the consequences there — an eight-game suspension — was pretty serious and something that he, at least to me, seemed to take incredibly seriously in that time. And we spoke for a long time about not just the consequences that could have on his career, but the safety issues around it — [Morant] could’ve injured, maimed, killed himself, someone else with an act like that — and also the acknowledgment that he’s a star.
“He has an incredibly huge following, and [we discussed] my concern — and I thought he shared with me — that millions, if not tens of millions, of kids globally would have seen him do something that was celebrating in a way that act of using a firearm in that fashion.
“So I at least was left with the sense that he was taking this incredibly serious.”
Morant, for his part, issued another apology for the latest video — which appeared on the Instagram Live account belonging to Davonte Pack, said to be Morant’s best friend. Pack has been involved in several incidents involving Morant that resulted in an investigation from the league office.
“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” Morant said in a statement on Tuesday. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”
As for the Grizzlies, there’s a sense that the team may have to restructure the roster with a potentially lengthy suspension for Morant in mind.
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That villainous gun waiving by the basketball players…
One if the world’s biggest problems.
NBA policing social media, private lives, and personal decisions.
When you have to ask if its a crime.. so you can figure out how to punish, youre just looking for ways to exhibit authority.
Did NBA cut their deals with the alcohol companies yet? Still havent correlation correlation data with alcohol use and violent crime? Still looking the other way on that? On a topic we have real world consequences data on? Actual death, not just a video of a gun. Real lives lost.
And instead of doing the right thing, stop selling alcohol, NBA says no this is not an issue, Ja Morant is the issue, he is the priblem of the day. NBA will flex that authority on you players, and never be held accountable to look in the mirror and make some changes that are in line with the values they’re preaching. People staying alive or whatever they claim their cause is now.
Modello beer and Kia commercials. I forget which hard liquors theyre selling now. Alcohol is s drug that impairs. There is data and history for this if you dont live under a rock. The NBA literally sells drugs. And cars, simultaneously. Somebody surely died yesterday in a drunk driving accident somewhere.
But these social media videos probably kill a lot more people than alcohol.