Matthew Adams
Staff Writer
Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja’ Morant was suspended indefinitely after flashing a gun on his Instagram live.
After a 97-113 loss against the Denver Nuggets, on March 4, 2023, Morant wanted to relieve his stress with a night out at a local Denver nightclub.
Morant could be seen on his Instagram live, dancing and having a good time with teammates and confidants alike.
A couple of minutes into the Instagram live, the Grizzlies superstar could be seen flashing what looks to be a miniature pistol at the camera.
Though the gun was flashed for a brief moment, the consequences of his actions are predicted to be long-lasting.
Morant was in headlines all around the world, and even got the attention of local authorities.
Morant’s charges would later be dropped due to no evidence according to the Colorado Police Department.
If Morant was convicted, he would have faced up to 10 years. This would be a major setback for the organization and his career, after just launching his first signature shoe with Nike.
Although he was able to avoid criminal charges for this incident, repercussions were bound to accompany Morant’s actions.
His punishment came in the form of an indefinite suspension that could last up to 50 games.
With media outlets pushing several narratives about the controversy, Morant was in the hot seat. Fans around the world were all awaiting a statement from the Grizzlies organization.
Hours later an apology was issued by Morant stating, “I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Taylor Jenkins, Grizzlies Head Coach, was disappointed with Morant’s actions. Jenkins issued a response and was filled with a firm statement that Ja’ Morant would not be back anytime soon.
This would be due to Morant being entered into a rehabilitation program, where he would spend time focusing on better ways to manage stress.
This long stint of mental rehabilitation leaves Memphis without its main scorer. Morant leaves the team averaging 27.1 points, 8.2 assists., and 6.0 rebounds.
The Grizzlies are placed second in the West with a record of 44-27. The Grizz have plenty of players ready to step up and fill the point guard position, such as Tyus Jones and Dillion Brooks.
This incident also got the attention of former basketball players such as Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Stephen Jackson, and others.
These NBA legends have seen many similar occurrences with other players. Gilbert Arenas, a former NBA superstar, also faced suspension due to gun charges.
Jackson State University students also sounded off on the sudden suspension of Ja Morant.
Corey Jones, a junior marketing major from Detroit, Mich., feels that Morant’s problem could be solved by an immediate change of scenery.
“He needs to change the people he surrounds himself around,” Jones stated. “A change of environment would change his outlook on life as well in my opinion.”
With Morant being absent from team practices, his period of rehabilitation offers an opportunity to clear his mind in a new setting.
Yahmir Muhammad, a junior civil engineering major from Rockford, Ill., feels as if Ja Morant will learn from his mistakes.
“Ja Morant is a young superstar and a huge face in the NBA. I think flashing a gun on Instagram was a mistake,” stated Muhammad. “We all make mistakes and decisions that we learn from. He will learn from it and hopefully get better because of it.”
Daiqui Danley, a junior business management major from Chicago, Ill., also feels like his mistake should be forgiven, despite his responsibilities as a role model.
Danley states, “Ja’ Morant being the face of the new generation of athlete in the NBA today, he should want to represent his brand and those around him better than he has recently. However he is still human.”
A plethora of people via social media have been reaching out to Morant and giving him advice on this unfortunate mistake.
Nick Buzzelli, Ph.D., a professor at Highpoint University, shared his insight on Morant’s situation.
He also stated, “Conversely, the Grizzles decided to have Morant step away from the team for the time being, even though charges were also not filed in his case, as a way to help him continue to grow as a young man.”
Buzzelli then praises the Grizzlies organization for staying focused through the drama.
“They did not allow Morant’s off-court issue to become a distraction to the team had he continued to play in the immediate aftermath of this situation,” said Buzzelli.
