Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant has been out of the lineup since a March 3 loss to the Denver Nuggets as the league has investigated a social media video of the point guard waving a gun in a club. The league has now reached a resolution on Morant’s punishment, and he’s scheduled to return to the lineup next week after rumors that he could be sidelined all season.
Morant has been suspended for eight games without pay for “conduct detrimental to the league,” according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Morant spent the last week in a counseling program in Florida, and met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Wednesday before receiving clearance to return. Morant will make his return on Monday, March 20 when the Grizzlies host the Dallas Mavericks.
Morant posted an Instagram Live video of himself in a club following the Nuggets game where he briefly waved a gun. The video came just days after a Washington Post report that outlined some off-court issues for Morant, including allegedly beating up a teenager during a pick-up game at his house. Morant also drew headlines earlier this year for someone in his traveling party allegedly pointing a laser at members of the Pacers’ traveling party that was feared to be attached to a gun.
The NY Post published some vile writing on Morant’s night in the Denver club that included some wild photos. The NBA concluded the gun did not belong to Morant.
NBA investigation into Ja Morant did not conclude that the gun belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period… “also did not find that Morant possessed the gun while traveling with the team or in any NBA facility.” https://t.co/QRaNhu9gk5
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 15, 2023
We’ll update this story as it develops.