Ja Morant's suspension, off-court controversies, and a timeline of his behavior — from threatening a mall security guard to showing a gun on Instagram

Cork GainesMar 18, 2023, 18:13 IST

Ja Morant.Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The NBA has suspended Ja Morant for 8 games after he shared a video of himself with a gun in a club.
This was just the latest incident involving Morant, in which others have said guns were seen.

The NBA suspended Ja Morant for 8 games after showing a gun in a nightclub.

Morant is seen by many as the NBA's king-in-waiting.

Alika Jenner/Getty Images

In just his fourth season in the NBA, the 23-year-old Morant is already seen by many as the future face of the NBA, following in the steps of LeBron James and Steph Curry. The two-time All-Star is one of the most exciting players in the league with his high-flying dunks and is also seen as the key to the health of the Grizzlies in Memphis, the NBA's smallest market.

Commissioner Adam Silver addressed these issues in the NBA's statement announcing the suspension.

"Ja's conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous," Silver wrote. "It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him. He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behavior. Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court."

Commissioner Adam Silver addressed these issues in the NBA's statement announcing the suspension.

Ja's conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous, Silver wrote. It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him. He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behavior. Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court.

He recently signed a $193 million extension.

Morant's off-court troubles seemingly began when he appeared to threaten somebody on Twitter.

After the season, Morant was accused of threatening a mall security guard.

Lance McMillan/Toronto Star via Getty Images

According to Molly Hensley-Clancy of the Washington Post, the head of security at a Memphis mall filed a police report saying Morant "threatened" him during an altercation in the parking lot. The guard said that somebody with Morant shoved him in the head.

It was reported that Morant's mother got into an altercation with a mall employee and called Morant who showed up with "a group of as many as nine other people."

No charges were filed in relation to the incident.

According to Molly Hensley-Clancy of the Washington Post, the head of security at a Memphis mall filed a police report saying Morant threatened him during an altercation in the parking lot. The guard said that somebody with Morant shoved him in the head.

It was reported that Morant's mother got into an altercation with a mall employee and called Morant who showed up with a group of as many as nine other people.

No charges were filed in relation to the incident.

Four days later, he was accused of beating up a teenager.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The gun video was just the latest troubling incident for Morant.

During an off-season pickup basketball game at Morant's house last July, a 17-year-old accused Morant of attacking him after a verbal altercation, according to court records obtained by TMZ.

The teen told the police he accidentally hit Morant in the face with the basketball during the argument, which led Morant to punch the boy, knocking him to the ground, and then repeatedly hit him with the help of another man.

The local district attorney chose not to charge Morant over the incident, but the teen later filed a lawsuit against Morant, according to TMZ.

The gun video was just the latest troubling incident for Morant.

During an off-season pickup basketball game at Morant's house last July, a 17-year-old accused Morant of attacking him after a verbal altercation, according to court records obtained by TMZ.

The local district attorney chose not to charge Morant over the incident, but the teen later filed a lawsuit against Morant, according to TMZ.

Morant said he was acting in self-defense, but was also accused of getting a gun from the house.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Morant told police that the teen threw the ball at his face intentionally and then approached him as if he wanted to fight. The NBA player also accused the teen of threatening to "light his house up," which Morant interpreted as a threat to go get a gun.

Morant filed his own police report over the threat.

The Washington Post later reported that, after the fight, the teen also accused Morant of going into his house and coming back out with a gun in his waistband and his hand on the gun.

Morant told police that the teen threw the ball at his face intentionally and then approached him as if he wanted to fight. The NBA player also accused the teen of threatening to light his house up, which Morant interpreted as a threat to go get a gun.

Morant filed his own police report over the threat.

The Washington Post later reported that, after the fight, the teen also accused Morant of going into his house and coming back out with a gun in his waistband and his hand on the gun.

Morant's off-court issues even once involved his dad.

A week later, members of the Indiana Pacers believed they were threatened by a gun and Morant was involved.

Sharpe accused Morant of trying to be "hard."

Shannon Sharpe is restrained by security after a verbal altercation during halftime of the Grizzlies-Lakers game on January 20, 2023, in Los Angeles, California.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

"Ja is a really good basketball player," Sharpe said on his Fox Sports show, "Undisputed." "Ja did everything he could to lift himself and his family out of this type of environment and to get away from this and for some reason he wants to surround himself with these type of people. Why? Bruh, you not hard. That's not your life. People in that life would give anything to be in your life."

Others believe Morant's issue is more about maturity and adjusting to his newfound fame and money.

Morant grew up in a rural area of South Carolina and went to high school in Sumter, with a population of less than 50,000. Teammate Tyus Jones told The Athletic that Morant is just going through growing pains.

"Each year [Morant] is getting more attention, and he'll become one of the faces of the league," Jones said. "So with that comes more responsibility both on and off the court. Sometimes that just takes some growing pains that you have to go through. It's not the same situation for him as it was last year. It's not the same last year as it was the year before. So you have to continue to grow, continue to learn. It's just life lessons."

Ja is a really good basketball player, Sharpe said on his Fox Sports show, Undisputed. Ja did everything he could to lift himself and his family out of this type of environment and to get away from this and for some reason he wants to surround himself with these type of people. Why? Bruh, you not hard. That's not your life. People in that life would give anything to be in your life.

Others believe Morant's issue is more about maturity and adjusting to his newfound fame and money.

Each year [Morant] is getting more attention, and he'll become one of the faces of the league, Jones said. So with that comes more responsibility both on and off the court. Sometimes that just takes some growing pains that you have to go through. It's not the same situation for him as it was last year. It's not the same last year as it was the year before. So you have to continue to grow, continue to learn. It's just life lessons.

After the incident in the club, Morant entered a counseling program.

The team has also changed their travel routine in recent months.

Ja Morant and Taylor Jenkins.Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

After Morant's late-night club incident with the gun, The Athletic reported that the team had changed their travel plans after road games.

"There have even been travel measures taken to curtail nightlife habits this season, with the Grizzlies leaving more road cities (especially the glitzier ones, like Miami) immediately after the game instead of staying overnight," Joe Vardon and Sam Amick wrote.

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said more changes are coming.

"We [will] sit down and talk to him and guide him through this process," Jenkins told The Athletic. "That's going to be our focal point, on and off the court. As I said in the beginning, support and accountability — that's what we are focused on. Not just in these recent couple of weeks, but moving forward.

"Obviously, things are going to be different."

After Morant's late-night club incident with the gun, The Athletic reported that the team had changed their travel plans after road games.

There have even been travel measures taken to curtail nightlife habits this season, with the Grizzlies leaving more road cities (especially the glitzier ones, like Miami) immediately after the game instead of staying overnight, Joe Vardon and Sam Amick wrote.

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said more changes are coming.

We [will] sit down and talk to him and guide him through this process, Jenkins told The Athletic. That's going to be our focal point, on and off the court. As I said in the beginning, support and accountability — that's what we are focused on. Not just in these recent couple of weeks, but moving forward.

Obviously, things are going to be different.

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Ja Morant's suspension, off-court controversies, and a timeline of his behavior &mdash; from threatening a mall security guard to showing a gun on Instagram

The NBA suspended Ja Morant for 8 games after showing a gun in a nightclub.

Morant is seen by many as the NBA's king-in-waiting.

He recently signed a $193 million extension.

Morant's off-court troubles seemingly began when he appeared to threaten somebody on Twitter.

After the season, Morant was accused of threatening a mall security guard.

Four days later, he was accused of beating up a teenager.

Morant said he was acting in self-defense, but was also accused of getting a gun from the house.

Morant's off-court issues even once involved his dad.

A week later, members of the Indiana Pacers believed they were threatened by a gun and Morant was involved.

Sharpe accused Morant of trying to be "hard."

After the incident in the club, Morant entered a counseling program.

The team has also changed their travel routine in recent months.

Ja Morant's suspension, off-court controversies, and a timeline of his behavior — from threatening a mall security guard to showing a gun on Instagram