The NBA All-Star Ja Morant has been suspended after footage was captured of him apparently displaying a gun in a video. This is the second time the 23-year-old Memphis Grizzlies star has been suspended by the NBA, after brandishing a firearm on Instagram just a few months ago.
The footage was from an Instagram Live video that showed Ja Morant and a friend in a car while they listened and danced to a song by rapper NBA YoungBoy. Morant was seen quickly revealing the gun. NBA spokesman, Mike Bass, said: “We are aware of the social media post involving Ja Morant and are in the process of gathering more information”. The Associated Press reported that the Grizzlies have suspended him from all team activities until the NBA have reviewed the footage.
This is not the first time Morant has caused controversy. In March he went on Instagram Live at 5am from a nightclub in Denver, Colorado, and brandished a gun. He was punished by the NBA by receiving an eight-game suspension without pay. The player then went to Florida for counseling, where he learnt how to “manage stress and cope with it in a positive way”. After the incident, he deactivated his social media for a period of time, but both his Instagram and Twitter have since been restored.
In July 2022, Morant signed a five-year contract with the Grizzlies worth $194 million, giving him an annual average salary of $38,860,000, according to Sportrac. He is also endorsed by brands such as Wendy’s, Bodyarmour, Uber Eats, Powerade, PSD and Hyperice, potentially worth hundreds of millions more, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
Reacting to the incident, Nike released a statement saying they appreciated Morant’s willingness to take responsibility and to get help, and that they support his focus on his well-being.