The NBA is suspending Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant for eight games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league.
The NBA has suspended Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant for eight games after a league investigation into him displaying an apparent gun at a Denver nightclub on social media on March 4.
Memphis Grizzlies
Golden State Warriors
Dallas Mavericks
Miami Heat
San Antonio SpursHis suspension is without pay and comes for conduct detrimental to the league.
"Based on the information obtained during the investigation, the league did not conclude that the gun at issue belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub, or was displayed by him beyond a brief period.
The investigation also did not find that Morant possessed the gun while traveling with the team or in any NBA facility, and the Colorado authorities did not find sufficient cause to charge Morant with a crime," the official announcement reads.
Morant is eligible to return to the Grizzlies lineup on March 20 vs. Dallas Mavericks, the league says. He hadn't been playing basketball while at a counseling center in Florida, so his ramp-up is expected to extend past Monday's game vs. Dallas, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. It's expected that Morant will return to play shortly thereafter.
Ja met with Adam Silver in New York prior to the announcement by the NBA. NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars, and NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio, among others, attended the meeting.
"Ja's conduct was irresponsible, reckless, and potentially very dangerous," said Silver. "It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him. He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behavior.
Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court."
Morant got into trouble recently after he hosted an Instagram live from a nightclub where he showed a gun to thousands of spectators. The team has suspended the player.
While he was away from the team facility, a photo was leaked from the nightclub that shows Morant with strip dancers and almost every inch of surface covered in cash.
Several days after the gun incident, Ja announced that he'd be taking time away from basketball to tackle his inner issues. The player has entered counseling in Florida.
The player's been entrenched in a public scandal during the last months. Most recently, a story emerged that he punched a teenager during a basketball game in his home in Tennessee. After the incident, he allegedly re-emerged from the house with a gun visible in the waistband of his pants and his hand on the weapon.
During the summer, Morant also got involved in a verbal altercation with Memphis police in one of the city's malls when he and his friends refused the security guard's demands to leave the mall parking lot.
The Grizzlies star was recently involved in another incident involving a gun. Morant's long-time friend Devonte Pack was banned from attending Grizzlies home games at the FedExForum for a year after he verbally abused Indiana Pacers players during and after the game. Although the Pacers believed a gun was pointed at them after the game, the NBA denied it in their report.
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