UPDATED 6/16, 2:29 p.m. ET: The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has addressed news of Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension.
In a statement shared Friday afternoon, NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio called the discipline decision “excessive and inappropriate.” Tremaglio also said that the NBPA will be looking into “all options and next steps” moving forward.
“Ja has expressed his remorse and accepted responsibility for his actions, and we support him unequivocally as he does whatever is necessary to represent himself, our players and our league in the best possible light," Tremaglio said.
See original story below.
Ja Morant has finally received his punishment for flashing a gun for a second time on Instagram Live.
According to Shams Charania, Morant will be suspended for 25 games.
Shortly after news of the 25-game suspension broke, Morant released a statement.
"I've had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I've caused," Morant wrote. "I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis."
He continued, "To Adam Silver, Zach Kleiman and Robert Pera - who gave me the opportunity to be a professional athlete and have supported me - I'm sorry for the harm I've done. To the kids who look up to me, I'm sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I'm going to be better. To all of my sponsors, I'm going to be a better representation of our brands. And to all of my fans, I'm going to make it up to you, I promise."
NBA commissioner Adam Silver previously revealed he wouldn’t announce Morant’s punishment until the conclusion of the 2023 NBA Finals.
The 23-year-old’s latest punishment comes after he received an eight-game suspension in March after he flashed a firearm inside a Denver strip club. He also admitted himself into a counseling program in Florida.
That didn’t last long, as Morant was caught again on Instagram Live in May flashing another fireman while riding in a car with his friend. It’s unclear if the gun was the same one from the strip club video.
Several celebrities chimed in on Ja Morant’s troubles off the court, from Moneybagg Yo, Snoop Dogg, BlocBoy JB and more. Fat Joe took to his Instagram Live show and had some advice for Morant.
“That man is trying hard to go play [in] Turkey or China or Serbia-Montenegro,” Joe shared. “He’s trying hard to get kicked out the NBA. And those guys that’s with you? They not your peoples, Ja. They don’t care!”
Lil Wayne defended Morant during his appearance on the All The Smoke podcast saying, “I only started knowing him when I started paying attention to him on his last year of college,” Wayne said. “He comes from, like, a town of 3,000 people. What y’all expect? Y’all gave him $200 million. I just said a town with 3,000 people! You expect him to be responsible? Now we trippin’ then.”
Ja Morant’s suspension will also impact the Grizzlies who are looking to bounce back from a tumultuous 2022-2023 season. The second-seeded Grizzlies were upset by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games during the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
