June 16, (THEWILL) – Ja Morant, the star player for the Memphis Grizzlies, has been handed a 25-game suspension for the upcoming 2023/2024 NBA season, after a video surfaced on Instagram Live showing him brandishing a handgun back in May.
The league announced that Morant will not receive any pay during his suspension and will be required to fulfill certain conditions before he can return to play. Additionally, he will be barred from participating in any public league or team activities, including preseason games, throughout the duration of his suspension.
In a statement, Morant showed remorse for his actions: “I’ve had time to reflect and I realise how much hurt I’ve caused. I want to apologise to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates, and the city of Memphis.” He also extended apologies to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Grizzlies’ General Manager Zack Kleiman, and team owner Robert Pera. Morant acknowledged his failure as a role model for aspiring young athletes and vowed to make amends, promising his fans and sponsors a better representation of their brands.
The Grizzlies, in a separate statement, affirmed their support for the league’s decision to suspend Morant, emphasising their commitment to upholding clear standards for team personnel. This is not the first time Morant has faced disciplinary action from the NBA. Earlier this year in March, he received an eight-game suspension following the release of a video showing him with a gun in a Denver nightclub.
The recent incident in May, with Morant appearing to possess a firearm in a car, led to this extended suspension and no-pay penalty.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
