Yes Morant suspended again
NBA star shaken with next weapon scandal
05/15/2023 11:21 am
Again and again trouble about Ja Morant: While 50 people die every day from guns in the USA, the NBA superstar provides the next gun excitement. In a video he shows a weapon – and is promptly suspended. Two months ago he caused a similar scandal.
Ja Morant is one of the superstars and one of the most talented basketball players in the NBA. But the 23-year-old always causes trouble. The Memphis Grizzlies suspended Morant from all team activities Sunday after a video showing the point guard holding a gun circulated on social media Saturday night. It’s not the first time that the professional has caused such a scandal: just two months ago, the US league suspended him because of a similar weapons incident.
The Grizzlies, who finished the season second in the Western Conference and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, announced the suspension, which is still under review by the league, in a statement. The team had no further comment, while NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement, “We are aware of Ja Morant’s social media post and are in the process of gathering more information.”
In fact, this time it wasn’t a post from Morant himself, but a live Instagram session on a friend’s channel that got the superstar in trouble. In video that was later deleted, Morant could be seen riding in a car, singing along to a rap song while pointing a gun. It is unclear at this time if the firearm is real and if it belongs to Morant. The basketball player has not yet made a statement.
Morant already had behavioral problems before
The video could have further and serious consequences for Morant. In March, he was suspended by the league for eight games after he was filmed displaying a gun at a Denver strip club when the Grizzlies were in town to play the Nuggets. Morant met with NBA boss Adam Silver, who described the pro’s behavior as “irresponsible, inconsiderate and potentially very dangerous,” left the Grizzlies and entered a counseling program. He also deactivated his social media accounts.
At the time of the suspension, Morant said in an interview with US broadcaster ESPN that he was aware “of what I have to lose” and that he would try to “be more responsible and smarter and stay away from any bad decisions.” . Police have not charged Morant with any crime in connection with the March incident, and the NBA concluded that the gun did not belong to the player. He lost around $669,000 in salary during his suspension.
Morant’s behavior caused a stir even before the suspension in March. After a game in January, members of the Indiana Pacers reported that after the game against the Grizzlies, what appeared to be a laser sight from a gun was pointed at them from the Auto Morant. People close to Morant had clashed with Pacers players during the game. The NBA star is also currently being sued following an incident at his home last summer. A 17-year-old claims he was attacked by Morant and a friend during a basketball game. The teenager claims Morant then came out of his house with a gun. The local public prosecutor’s office investigated the alleged incident but did not initiate criminal proceedings.
“Given his enormous following and influence, especially among the young fans who look up to him, this has serious consequences,” Silver said in March after the first gun scandal. US media are now speculating that repeat offender Morant could be punished more severely this time. Morant’s five-year, $194 million contract begins next season, but the Grizzlies are likely to keep him. He has endorsement deals with Nike and Powerade, although the sports drink company withdrew an endorsement with Morant almost immediately after the video surfaced in March.
According to the Gun Violence Archive So far this year there have been more than 200 incidents in the United States in which four or more people have been injured or killed by guns. 48,830 people died from gun injuries in the United States in 2021, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to this, more than 50 people are killed by a gun every day in the United States.