Ja Morant Faces NBA Investigation Following Social Media Post, Takes Leave From Grizzlies For at Least Two Games

Photo: Instagram/Ja Morant 

The NBA has launched an investigation into a social media post made by Ja Morant, the star guard of the Memphis Grizzlies, after he streamed himself holding what appeared to be a gun at a nightclub.

The Grizzlies subsequently announced that Morant would be away from the team for at least two games. In response, Morant issued an apology on Saturday.

The video was streamed on his Instagram page and was not archived once he stopped the stream.

Photo: Instagram/Ja Morant 

The Grizzlies played in Denver on Friday night and are due to play the Clippers and the Lakers in Los Angeles.

The Grizzlies did not provide any further information regarding Morant's absence, and it remains unclear if he will accompany the team to Los Angeles.

If the NBA finds evidence of wrongdoing, Morant could face fines or suspension.

Memphis is currently ranked second in the Western Conference standings, with Morant leading the way as a two-time All-Star who is averaging 27.1 points and 8.2 assists per game.

This is not the first time that Morant has been subject to an investigation by the league in recent weeks.

After a Jan. 29 incident in Memphis, Morant's actions were investigated, and he said it led to a friend of his being banned from home games there for a year.

Unnamed sources cited in The Indianapolis Star and USA Today said that members of the Pacers saw a red dot pointed at them, while a Pacers security guard believed that a laser was attached to a gun.

However, the NBA found no evidence that anyone was threatened with a weapon.

Morant is a rising superstar who was the second pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

He recently signed a five-year, $194 million extension with the Grizzlies, which will rise to approximately $230 million if he makes an All-NBA team this season.

Morant is also a sought-after endorser, with Nike unveiling his first signature shoe on Christmas, and Powerade announcing a multi-year endorsement deal with him earlier this week.

However, The Washington Post published a story on the same day as the Powerade deal, based on police records it obtained, detailing how Morant and some associates had been accused of threatening and even violent behavior.

Read Next: NBA Star Ja Morant Sparks Controversy With Strip Club Instagram Video And Gun Celebration at Game

Source: NBA 

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Evander Holyfield Reveals The Best Fighter He Ever Faced

Image
Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield Boxing legend Evander Holyfield has faced some of the sport's biggest names, and he has now revealed who he thinks was the best of them all. Holyfield, one of the most decorated boxers ever, ended his amateur career with an Olympic bronze medal. He then became a standout talent in the cruiserweight division before moving up to become a four-time heavyweight champion, despite being smaller than many of his opponents. Until Oleksandr Usyk matched his feat, Holyfield was the only man to achieve undisputed titles in both cruiserweight and heavyweight. Holyfield is well known for his infamous fight with Mike Tyson , where Tyson bit his ear, and for facing other legends like Lennox Lewis and George Foreman. But in an interview with Ring Magazine’s ‘Best I Faced’ series, Holyfield named Riddick Bowe as the greatest opponent he ever fought. Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield "I would say Bowe. I had three fights with Bowe. He was very competitive,
Read More

Katie Taylor Suspended After Controversial Win Over Amanda Serrano

Image
Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Katie Taylor will be suspended for at least 30 days after her controversial victory over Amanda Serrano on Friday night. The fight took place at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, where Taylor defended her light-welterweight titles. The bout went the full 10 rounds, with Taylor winning by unanimous decision. The judges scored it 95-94 in her favor, but the match wasn’t without controversy. Serrano suffered a bad cut from a head clash earlier in the fight, and Taylor was later penalized for a headbutt in the eighth round. After the fight, Serrano expressed her frustration. “I knew when it went to the judges it would be shady,” she said. “She kept headbutting me, but it’s not new. She did the same with Chantelle Cameron.” Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Taylor denied any foul play, saying, “The headbutt was accidental. This is a tough sport, and things like that happen. I’m not a dirty fighter.” Both fighters will be suspended for a mandatory rest perio
Read More

Ryan Garcia Plans Return To Boxing In December, Eyes Fight With Jake Paul

Image
Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Boxing star Ryan Garcia is set to return to the ring on December 30 for an exhibition fight in Japan. This will be his first match since being suspended for a year after testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year. Garcia, known as "King Ry," will face former kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo. The fight will be broadcast as a pay-per-view event on Fanmio for $49.99. “I’m excited to knock Anpo out,” Garcia said. “He tried to take down a legend like Manny Pacquiao , and I’m going to teach him some respect.” Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Anpo recently fought  Pacquiao  to a draw in an exhibition match, but Garcia claims he’ll finish the job in just three rounds. Even before stepping into the ring with Anpo, Garcia has his sights set on Jake Paul. Paul, who recently won a controversial decision against boxing legend Mike Tyson , is one of the biggest names in crossover boxing. “I’ve been quiet, but here’s the plan,” Garcia sh
Read More

Jury Rules Conor McGregor Sexually Assaulted Woman In 2018

Image
Photo: Conor McGregor / Instagram   Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been ordered to pay €250,000 ($259,950) in damages after a jury found he sexually assaulted a woman in 2018. The verdict came on Friday after a civil trial at Ireland’s High Court. The jury, made up of eight women and four men, deliberated for over six hours before reaching their decision. The woman, Nikita Hand, said McGregor assaulted her on December 9, 2018, at a party in a hotel penthouse in Dublin. She also accused another man, James Lawrence, of assault, but the jury found Lawrence did not harm her. Photo: Conor McGregor / Instagram   McGregor, 36, denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual. He also denied causing any injuries. He left the court without commenting. Hand’s lawyer, John Gordon, told the court that Hand visited a sexual assault treatment unit the day after the incident, where a doctor documented her injuries. Hand testified that she met McGregor after a work Chri
Read More

Jerseys Worn By LeBron And Bronny James In Historic NBA Game Up For Sale

Image
Photo: Bronny and LeBron James / Instagram   LeBron and Bronny James made history on October 22, becoming the first father and son to play in an NBA game together. Now, the jerseys they wore during that historic game are being sold at auction. The two jerseys, both from the Los Angeles Lakers, are available through a partnership between the NBA and Sotheby’s. The auction started on Thursday, and by Thursday evening, bids had already reached $70,000. LeBron's jersey has been matched to the Lakers' 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played 34 minutes, scoring 16 points, with five rebounds and four assists. The jersey was also linked to two preseason games and the NBA media day. Photo: Bronny and LeBron James / Instagram Sotheby’s says Bronny’s jersey was worn in the second half of the game, but it could not be verified with photos because he was often seen wearing a warm-up jacket. However, the jersey was matched to four preseason games and NBA media day
Read More

Mike Tyson Responds To Evander Holyfield’s Callout: “The Trilogy Is Our Friendship”

Image
Photo: Mike Tyson / Instagram   Mike Tyson has addressed a challenge from his former rival, Evander Holyfield , just days after losing to Jake Paul in a much-hyped boxing match. The 58-year-old boxing legend returned to the ring last weekend but was outmatched by the younger Paul, losing by unanimous decision. While Tyson hinted at a possible fight with Logan Paul , Holyfield’s callout has sparked interest among fans. Holyfield, 61, took to Instagram to suggest a third fight with Tyson, writing, “The fans want it! #UnfinishedBusiness.” Tyson responded warmly, saying, “I love you, brother, but the trilogy is our friendship.” Photo: Mike Tyson / Instagram   The two have a storied history in boxing. Holyfield defeated Tyson in their first bout in 1996 and famously won their 1997 rematch when Tyson was disqualified for biting his ear. Despite their heated past, the former rivals have grown close in recent years. Holyfield last fought in 2021, while Tyson’s recent match was his first p
Read More

Francis Ngannou’s Coach Shares Tips For Tom Aspinall To Beat Jon Jones

Image
Photo: Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones / Instagram   Francis Ngannou ’s coach, Eric Nicksick , has shared advice with Tom Aspinall on how to potentially defeat Jon Jones in their rumored UFC heavyweight unification fight. Jones recently defended his heavyweight title at UFC 309 with a stunning spinning back kick knockout of Stipe Miocic . Meanwhile, Aspinall holds the interim heavyweight belt after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. Nicksick, who trains fighters like Ngannou, isn’t Aspinall’s coach but has still discussed strategies with him. He believes Aspinall’s unique skills could give him a real chance to become the first fighter to officially beat Jones. Photo: Tom Aspinall / Instagram   Speaking to The Schmo, Nicksick highlighted Aspinall’s footwork and fight IQ. He said Aspinall’s ability to switch stances and adapt in the heavyweight division is rare. “You can’t just stay in Jon’s range and let him control the fight,” Nicksick said. “You have to be aggressive and not let him
Read More

Khalil Rountree Reveals He Went Blind During UFC 307 Loss To Alex Pereira

Image
Photo: Khalil Rountree / Instagram   UFC light-heavyweight fighter Khalil Rountree is sharing the tough truth about his fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 307. Rountree, who earned a title shot after a strong five-fight win streak, faced Pereira, the reigning champion.  Despite being the underdog, Rountree gave it his all, even knocking Pereira down in the second round. As the fight went on, Rountree was doing well and was ahead on the scorecards.  However, in the fourth round, Pereira came back strong and won with a knockout to retain his title. Many praised Rountree for his heart and performance, but what fans didn't know was that he was fighting through a serious injury. Photo: Khalil Rountree / Instagram   Speaking on the JAXXON Podcast, Rountree explained that he went blind during the fight after a hard hit from Pereira. “In the moment, I didn’t feel it,” Rountree said. “But the second shot, the one that actually split my eye, I went blind. I couldn’t see anything, just light
Read More

Jake Paul Challenges Canelo Alvarez: “He Just Wants Money”

Image
Photo: Jake Paul, Canelo Alvarez / Instagram   YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is once again calling out Mexican boxing star Canelo Alvarez , claiming he’s confident the fight will happen. Paul believes a showdown with Canelo would be a huge event, both for the sport and financially. Paul, who has built a reputation as one of the most polarizing figures in boxing, shared his thoughts after his recent victory over Mike Tyson in a highly hyped match. Despite the event's financial success, many fans were disappointed with the fight. Now, Paul says his focus is on climbing the boxing ranks and taking on the world’s best, with Canelo being his ultimate goal. “I’ve been asking for the fight for three years,” Paul said on his YouTube show, BS w/ Jake Paul . “Canelo doesn’t care about whether I’m a risk or not. He’s just thinking about the money. That’s why I think the fight will happen.” Photo: Jake Paul / Instagram Paul, who wants to fight Canelo at 200 pounds in the cruiserweight di
Read More

Jennifer Lopez Sparks Rumors of Romance With Bodyguard After Ben Affleck Split

Image
Photo: Jennifer Lopez / Instagram   Jennifer Lopez is back in the spotlight, this time with rumors about her personal life. Reports suggest the 55-year-old superstar might be getting close to her bodyguard following her recent divorce from Ben Affleck . Despite telling the public she’s “not looking for anybody” right now, insiders claim she’s enjoying some light-hearted fun. “She’s not actively dating, but she’s definitely flirting,” a source shared. “She knows this could get under Ben’s skin.” Lopez and Affleck tied the knot in 2022 after rekindling their romance. However, the relationship ended in August when Lopez filed for divorce. According to a source, “She didn’t want the divorce, but Ben has a habit of avoiding problems. Now, she’s trying to take control of the narrative.” Photo: Jennifer Lopez / Instagram   In a recent interview, Lopez spoke about the challenges of being on her own. “It’s lonely, unfamiliar, scary, and sad,” she admitted. “But I’m learning to find joy and
Read More