Ja Morant has been suspended once again for the same gun-related offense that paused his career in March this year. While Ja Morant has earned plenty of respect as a player, he is yet to prove that he is worthy of being an idol.
Controversies and suspensions are piling sky-high on the Memphis Grizzlies player, and the latest one might be the cherry on top.
Just weeks after his last suspension in March, Ja Morrant got into trouble again, this time, over brandishing a gun live. Social Media has started trolling the player for his habit of pulling out guns whenever there is a live stream.
NBA will only tolerate this behavior for so long, and we hope Morrant covers up before he is outed from the team. So, let’s find out about his latest shenanigan with a timeline of the troubles he has caused.
What Did Ja Morant Do? Is He Suspended Again?
Ja Morant was suspended from the Memphis Grizzlies this Sunday after he appeared to be holding a gun in a social media post. In a tweet, the team confirmed, “He is suspended from all team activities pending League review.”
The video shows Morant in a car with other people and then brandishes his gun.
Judging from his last suspension, Ja Morrant will not get to play at least 8 more games. Any less than that will be met with outrage from fans. However, this time he might end up getting a harsher sentence as he repeated a mistake that happened just 2 months ago. A 10-12 game suspension might hit the sweet spot for Ja Morrant.
Ja Morant’s Previous Controversies
March 2023:
This is not the first time that the NBA player got in trouble, and neither is it his first gun-related controversy. Ja Morant is now synonymous with several thug-like behaviors. In March 2023, Ja Morant live-streamed a video where he held a gun while intoxicated. The scandal happened at a club near Denver.
Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner, commented at the time, “Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous. It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him.”
As a result, Morant was suspended for eight games without pay as it was a “conduct detrimental to the league.”
July 2022:
In two separate incidents, Ja Morrant was accused of beating up a 17-year-old boy and threatening a security guard at a mall. The Memphis mall’s head of security filed a police report saying that Morrant had threatened him.
The NBA player’s mother got into a scuffle with an employee at the mall, and Morrant showed up with around nine people. The complaint was lodged as Morrant was heard saying, “Let me find out what time he gets off.”
Just a week later, Morrant hosted an evening pickup basketball game, and a talented local high-schooler was invited. Due to a mishap in the game, the ball thrown by the boy hit Morrant’s chin. Morrant then punched the boy’s jaw and ganged up on him. The boy’s testimony states that Ja hit him 12-13 times, and others also landed blows.
As the boy was leaving, he saw Morant come outside with his gun, and his father was trying to get him back inside. Morant claimed it was self-defense, as the ball was thrown willingly without apologizing. The teen had apparently also said other violent things, which inflamed Morrant.
May 2022:
During the later 2021-2022 season, Morrant started dueling on Twitter with someone who was trolling him over a woman he used to date supposedly. Morrrant’s response: “It’s free to see how hollow feels,” was deemed as a threat to shoot the person
These aren’t the only cases against him, as Morrant has a rather plump history of violence and threats.
Where and How Did Ja Morant Grow Up?
If you are trying to blame Ja Morant’s conduct on an impoverished family or a shady neighborhood, sadly, you can’t, as he had an affluent childhood.
Born in Aug 1999, Morrat was raised in Sumter, South Carolina. His parents, Tee and Jamie Morrant were both athletes in college. He played high school basketball at his private school and was drafted by the Grizzlies in 2019.
Fans are now disappointed as Ja Morrant is trying to be something that he is not. He was a good kid growing up with every need of his met. He even had a basketball court in his backyard. Despite growing up in a town with a moderate crime rate, the basketball player is acting like a thug.
Have you been following the basketball player lately? Do you feel heartbroken, just like his fans? Do you think Ja Morrant will reflect on his behavior, or is this the beginning of his downfall? Rant to us in the comments below. Meanwhile, check out more NFL news right here.