NBA commissioner ‘shocked’ by new Morant video with apparent gun
The news
Star Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant apologized late Tuesday after facing days of criticism over a social media video that appeared to show him brandishing a gun in public for the second time in just over two months.
“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” Morant said in a statement. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to be done. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full responsibility for my actions. I am determined to keep working on myself.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a televised interview with ESPN on Tuesday that he was “appalled” by the video, which Morant’s friend reportedly streamed live on Instagram.
Why it matters: Morant is influential as a major rising NBA star.
Morant, 23, is one of the best young players in the NBA. He has already made two All-Star teams and one All-NBA team just four years into his playing career. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2020. Best known for his high-flying dunks, he has made the Grizzlies a strong contender in the Western Conference as the No. 2 seed in consecutive seasons.
He is also part of one new generation of NBA stars the league’s hopes will help the game transition of aging figures like LeBron James, 38, and Stephen Curry, 35. He has a new signature sneaker with Nike and was announced in March as the new face of Powerade.
Background: He was suspended in March over a shooting video.
Morant was criticized in March for brandishing a firearm at a Colorado nightclub in a live video posted to his Instagram account. The NBA suspended him for eight games. Morant then also apologized and took “full responsibility” for his actions. Morant vowed to “work on better methods of coping with stress” and went to a counseling center in Florida.
Silver, the NBA commissioner, called Morant’s actions “irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous.”
The video was posted as other Morant-related controversies circulated.
In a lawsuit, then 17-year-old Josh Holloway had accused Morant of punching him during a basketball game last summer. Morant told police it was self-defense. A mall employee had also accused Morant of assaulting him after Morant’s mother had a fight in a shoe store. Another person accused Morant of harassment when Morant came to his sister’s high school volleyball game because she was involved in a dispute. Morant has not been charged with a crime in any of these incidents.
Recordings of the new video went viral on Sunday. The Grizzlies quickly suspended Morant from all team activity, even though the team was eliminated from the playoffs last month.
What’s Next: The NBA will decide if Morant will be penalized again.
Silver told ESPN on Tuesday that the league was investigating the new video.
“The videos are grainy and everything,” said Silver. “But I assume the worst.”
As part of the NBAs collective agreement between the players’ union and the team owners, the players agree not to “do anything materially harmful or prejudicial to the interests of the team or the league”. By suspending Morant the first time, the NBA said his conduct was detrimental to the league.