The NBA has announced a 25-game suspension for Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant to start the 2023-24 season after his most recent video of posing with a firearm on social media. The league announced the suspension on Friday and this hasn't been the first time the league has taken action on Morant.
He was caught the first time towards the end of the regular season and suspended for eight games. After this suspension, Morant once again flashed a handgun from a vehicle during an Instagram Live video last month.
Reagarding the incident, the league launched an investigation, which was set to conclude somewhere around the NBA Finals. The statement released by the NBA said, " Ja Morant's decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games."
"The potential for other young people to emulate Ja's conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behaviour with guns will not be tolerated," the statement continued.
The NBA's statement further issued guidelines for Ja Morant's return which said, "For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time," Silver said in the statement. "Prior to his return to play, he will be required to formulate and fulfil a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behaviour."
Addressing the suspension, Ja Morant issued an apology and stated that he will take this time to reflect and come back as a better human being. The apology said, "I've had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I've caused. I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis. 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.
"I'm spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision-making. I'm also going to be training so that I'm ready to go when I can be back on the court. I know my teammates are going to hold it down and I'm so sorry I won't be out there with you at the beginning of the season. I hope you'll give me the chance to prove to you over time I'm a better man than what I've been showing you."
