The NBA today announced that Ja Morant, a talented player for the Memphis Grizzlies, has been suspended for 25 games without pay for behavior that was bad for the league. The decision was made in response to the athlete showing a gun on social media twice in separate incidents.
Morant released a statement soon after the ban was made public, and it has gone viral on social media.
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“I’ve had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I’ve caused. I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis,” his statement read.
Morant’s statement continued, “I’m spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision making.”
Nike, the brand that backs Morant, has also issued a statement. “We are pleased that Ja is taking accountability and prioritizing his well-being. We will continue to support him on and off the court,” the brand said in a statement.
One of Nike’s few signature athletes, Morant is a rising star in the league. The Nike Ja 1, the baller’s first signature sneaker, was unveiled in December 2022. Nike acquired Morant in 2019.
The NBA described the two instances that led to the ban in a statement released today. The first incident occurred on March 4 when Morant drunkenly live-streamed a video from a nightclub in the Denver region where he showed a revolver. The NBA penalised him by suspending him for eight unpaid games. The NBA claimed Morant “intentionally and prominently” displayed a gun while in a car with others in Memphis on a live-streamed video on May 13, two months later. On May 16, he released a statement in which he apologized for his behavior.
According to the NBA, the ban is effective right away and will last for the first 25 games of the regular season in 2023–24. Morant will also have to fulfil “certain conditions” before being allowed to play again, according to the NBA, and he will be “ineligible to participate in any public league or team activities, including preseason games,” while he is on suspension.
