Grizzlies Suspend Ja Morant While League Investigates Social Media Post

The Grizzlies have suspended star point guard Ja Morant from all team activities after a social media post appeared to show him brandishing a gun.

Morant was suspended by the NBA for eight games during the season for brandishing a gun in a Colorado night club. He entered a counseling in Florida while away from the Grizzlies in March.

At the time of his return, Morant told ESPN’s Jalen Rose he had learned from the incident.

“It’s not who I am,” Morant told Rose, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “I don’t condone it or any type of violence, but I take full responsibility from my actions. I made a bad mistake. I can see the image that I painted over myself with my recent mistakes. But in the future, I’m going to show everybody who Ja really is, what I’m about and change this narrative that everybody got.”

Statement from the Memphis Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/XXLjr6QtlG

— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) May 14, 2023

The NBA released a statement saying it is aware of the incident and investigating.

Morant, 23, had another outstanding season on the court, averaging 26.2 points, 8.1 assists and 6.9 rebounds. But despite finishing with the No. 2 overall seed in the Western Conference playoffs, Morant and the Grizzlies were eliminated by the Lakers in the first round.

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass: “We are aware of the social media post involving Ja Morant and are in the process of gathering more information.”

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 14, 2023