Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant could be in both legal trouble and trouble with the NBA, according to reports by the Athletic’s Shams Charania and NBA insider Marc Stein. The Colorado Police Department and the NBA are looking into Morant after he posted a video of himself in a nightclub with a handgun.
The NBA is more specifically looking into whether the Grizzlies superstar brought a gun onto team property prior to the incident.
“Basically the CBA says if there is a firearm on team premises (or on a team plane) that’s an automatic 50-game suspension. That’s why the league is trying to ascertain where was the gun before the Instagram video and all other manner of questions tied to that,” Stein explained.
However, Stein did correct his statement about the situation later on:
“There is no specific suspension length in league bylaws… Suspension length is imposed at the commissioner’s discretion.”
Either way, bringing a weapon onto team property is of course against league rules, particularly after the infamous Gilbert Arenas incident in which the former All-Star brought weapons into the locker room. He was suspended for 50 games, and Morant could face a similar punishment if found to have done the same thing.
It’s possible, but Commissioner Adam Silver could be more lenient if Morant takes responsibility and is indeed working on improving his behavior.
Ja Morant’s status leaves the Grizzlies in limbo.
Whether that ends up being the case or not, the Grizzlies may be without him for longer than previously expected. Initially, Morant was expected to be out for at least two games but could potentially be out for weeks as he deals with personal issues relating to his recent behavior.
Of course, there was the aforementioned nightclub incident as well as an alleged altercation involving a teenager. There was also an incident at a Foot Locker, all of which points to a pattern of bad decisions in the past for Morant. Those decisions may have jeopardized the Grizzlies’ promising season and could even jeopardize his career if he isn’t more careful going forward.
Veteran teammate Steven Adams even called out Morant during a recent players-only meeting, but he clearly didn’t get the message. Now, the Grizzlies sit in limbo as they wait and see if and when their best player will return.
Hopefully, he can put his issues behind him and get both himself and the team back on track ahead of the playoffs, though more will likely come out about Morant and the decision could be out of his hands.
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Author: Cal Durrett
