As the Memphis Grizzlies were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, the team was already dealing with the fallout of Ja Morant’s off-court issues. After the game, Morant addressed the media and acknowledged that he needed to make better decisions off the court. However, it appears that he has failed to do so once again.
On Saturday, Morant was seen in an Instagram live stream flashing a handgun while driving and singing along with a rap song with his friend Davonte Pack. This is not the first time that Morant has been involved in such an incident. Back in March, he was once again seen holding a gun on a live stream, while intoxicated at a Denver club when the Grizzlies were in town to play the Nuggets.
After that incident, Morant left the team and checked himself into a counseling program before serving an 8 game suspension. However, it appears that Morant has not learned his lesson and is continuing down this dangerous path. As of Sunday, the Memphis Grizzlies announced that the All-Star will be suspended from all team activities. He will now potentially face a more severe suspension beginning next season from the league office.
This news is extremely concerning for the Memphis Grizzlies, as Morant is their franchise cornerstone. The uber-athletic guard had a phenomenal season, averaging 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds while shooting 46.6% from the field. Losing him to suspension at the start of the 2023-24 regular season will be a detrimental loss to the team.
What’s even more discouraging for the Grizzlies is that Morant has been involved in numerous incidents this past year, including an ongoing lawsuit after allegedly punching a high school prospect in the head. It’s clear that Morant needs to take a serious look at his decision-making off the court and seek the help he needs to make better choices.
The NBA has been cracking down on player conduct off the court in recent years, and Morant may be facing a severe punishment from the league office. The league has a responsibility to uphold its image and the safety of its players and fans, and incidents like this cannot be taken lightly.
In the meantime, the Memphis Grizzlies will need to focus on potentially moving forward without Morant at the start of next season, and finding ways to make up for his absence on the court. It’s a tough blow for a team that was hoping to build on their success this season, but it’s a reminder that personal conduct off the court can have serious consequences for both the player and the team. Hopefully, Morant will take this suspension as a wake-up call and make the necessary changes to ensure that he can be a responsible and reliable player for his team and the league.
For more sports coverage from MLB, NBA, NFL, to NCAA contact Julian Ojeda: Call 786-501-9082 | Email: julianojeda@wepa.fm
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