Dangerous off-court behavior from Ja Morant has the potential to derail the Grizzlies’ season. It could also cost the star guard a small fortune.
Ja Morant is reportedly in a counseling program in Florida, working on making changes in his life after appearing on an Instagram Live video, flashing a gun in a Denver strip club. Morant has been away from the team for the past five games and it’s not clear when he might be able to or allowed to rejoin the team.
As Nate Duncan pointed out, missing games could also cost Ja Morant a potential All-NBA selection. And missing out on that honor could cause him to whiff on a contract incentive that could cost him tens of millions of dollars.
How much money would Ja Morant lose if he doesn’t make All-NBA?
Per Duncan’s calculations, missing All-NBA would cost Morant just under $40 million in additional earnings over the next few years. A player who makes an All-NBA team twice in their first four seasons is eligible for a supermax extension, which is the higher dollar figure Duncan is referencing.
Morant made second-team All-NBA last season and seemed like a likely selection this year before the past few weeks. All-NBA teams are not divided by conferences which means there are only six guard slots available. Donovan Mitchell and Luka Doncic seem like possible locks for the first team, which would mean Morant would need to steal one of four remaining slots from a field that could include, Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, James Harden, Tyrese Haliburton, Kyrie Irving, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young and Devin Booker.
Potentially missing a few more weeks of action could disqualify him in the minds of some voters — he’s already missed 14 games this season — not to mention how voters will weigh recognizing him in light of his off-court behavior.
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Author: Ian Levy
