Ja Morant addressed the media on Tuesday for the first time following his eight-game suspension.
Earlier this month, the Memphis Grizzlies guard was suspended by the NBA for eight games without pay after brandishing a gun in a video posted on social media on March 4. Morant returned to the team on Monday, and is expected to suit up for the Grizzlies’ matchup with the Rockets on Wednesday.
While speaking to local reporters following the Grizzlies’ practice on Tuesday, Morant maintained that his road to self-improvement is an “ongoing process.”
“Obviously took that time to better myself, get in a better space mentally,” Morant said, per ESPN. “It’s an ongoing process, you know, a continued process for me. Obviously I’ve been there for two weeks, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely better. So you know, that’s an ongoing process for me that I’ve still been continuing since I’ve been out.”
In addition, Morant acknowledged his “mistakes,” while issuing an apology to his family and the Grizzlies.
“Obviously, I’ve made mistakes in the past that cause a lot of negative attention—not only to me, but my family as well, my team, the organization—and I’m completely sorry for that,” he said. “So my job now is, like I said, to be more responsible, more smarter, and don’t cause any of that no more.”
Later, Ja denied that he has an “alcohol problem,” which NBA commissioner Adam Silver appeared to suggest when accusing Morant of being in an “intoxicated state” while posting the infamous Instagram Live video.
“I don’t have an alcohol problem, never had an alcohol problem,” Morant explained. “I went [to Florida] for counseling to learn how to manage stress, cope with stress in a positive way instead of ways I’ve tried to deal with it before that caused me to make mistakes.”
