Morant on 2 games, NBA investigates gun video

Ja Morant will miss at least the next two Memphis Grizzlies games, the team said on Saturday after the NBA launched an investigation into a social media post after the player made a live video apparently holding a gun in a nightclub.

Through a statement issued by the agency that represents Morant, the player “took full responsibility” for his actions and added that he would “take time to receive help”.

The video appeared on Morant’s Instagram account and has not been archived. The Grizzlies played in Denver on Friday and were scheduled to travel to Los Angeles on Saturday for games against the Clippers on Sunday and the Lakers on Tuesday.

Morant will miss at least two games, the Grizzlies said, without further comment.

“We are aware of Ja Morant’s social media posts and are investigating,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said shortly before.

The league added that it will attempt to speak with Morant as part of the investigation, although it is unclear when that meeting will take place. Morant apologized in a statement released by Tandem Sports + Entertainment.

“I take full responsibility for my actions last night,” Morant said. “I apologize to my family, my teammates, my coaches, my fans, my partner, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting them down. I’m going to take a little time to get help and learn how to manage stress.

It’s unclear what Morant meant by ‘helping’ and whether he intends to be away from the team any longer.

If violated, the league could fine or suspend Morant. According to the Grizzlies, Morant could return Thursday at home against the Golden State Warriors. It was not immediately clear whether he accompanied the Grizzlies on the trip to Los Angeles.

Memphis ranks second in the Western Conference and the star is averaging 27.1 points and 8.2 assists per game.

It’s the second time in as many weeks that Morant has been investigated by the league. Morant’s actions have been investigated by the league following a Jan. 29 incident in Memphis, when a friend of his was banned from home games for a year.

The incident happened during the game against the Indiana Pacers; citing unnamed sources, The Indianapolis Star and USA Today reported that several Pacers members claimed a red laser was pointed at them.

The NBA has confirmed that an unidentified individual has been banned from the arena.

Morant responded to the incident with a post on Twitter assuring the reports “paint him and my family in a negative light and my brother was banned from home games for an unbelievable year”.

There is precedent in the NBA penalizing a player for conduct involving weapons. In January 2010, then-commissioner David Stern suspended Gilbert Arenas from Washington indefinitely without pay for behavior “unfit at present to be on the field”.

The suspension came after Arenas was photographed before a game in Philadelphia pointing his gun-like fingers at a teammate as he was investigated by local and federal authorities after admitting to bringing a gun in the Wizards locker room.

Arenas missed 50 games, the rest of the 2009-10 campaign.

Morant, the second pick in the 2019 draft, has become a star. His five-year, $194 million contract extension with the Grizzlies begins next season and could reach $230 million if he makes the All-NBA team this year.