The Memphis Grizzlies announced Sunday morning they have suspended star Ja Morant, just hours after a video went viral on social media showing him displaying a gun.
“We are aware of the social media video involving Ja Morant,” a Grizzlies statement read. “He is suspended from all team activities pending league review. We have no further comment at this time.”
The Grizzlies statement came about two hours after the Instagram Live video showing Morant made headlines.
Grizzlies suspend Ja Morant from all team activities after another video with a gun on social media. pic.twitter.com/ojJCikC2XX
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 14, 2023
Saturday’s video, posted on the IG Live account belonging to one of Jam Morant’s friends, shows Morant in a car with music playing, when he appears to show a real gun.
Warning: The video contains NSFW language.
Ja Morant was allegedly seen showing off a gun on IG Live yesterday 😳 pic.twitter.com/fdhjBbIn9c
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 14, 2023
The incident is very similar to one from March, when an IG Live video showed the Memphis Grizzlies All-Star with a firearm at a Denver-area nightclub.
Morant took time away from the team after that incident, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver later suspended him for eight games, saying, “Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous.”
The suspension announced by the Grizzlies comes just one day short of the two-month anniversary of Morant’s suspension by the NBA.
Morant, who made his second All-Star game this season, did not make any of the three All-NBA teams despite scoring 26.2 points per game this year. Some observers attributed his omission to the previous gun incident and other off-court issues.