Morant will be out for at least two games, according to the Grizzlies, who did not specify why. Several others shared video clips of Morant carrying what seemed to be a gun on social media.
The Memphis Grizzlies announced on Saturday that standout guard Ja Morant would miss at least two games due to an investigation into a social media video that appeared to show Morant clutching a gun.
The Grizzlies did not reply quickly to concerns regarding the social media post, Morant’s absence, and whether he had been disciplined. Several people shared video clips on social media on Saturday that looked to show Morant brandishing a gun and smiling in a nightclub in a live video on his Instagram account.
Morant’s verified Instagram account had no live videos matching the clips circulating on social media as of mid-Saturday morning. Morant’s Instagram and Twitter accounts had been disabled by the afternoon.
Morant, 23, said in a statement that he accepted “full responsibility for my actions last night,” without elaborating, and that he regretted for disappointing people.
The Grizzlies were defeated on the road by the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement prohibits players from carrying weapons at team facilities or when traveling on league business.
In his fourth season, Morant is now one of the top guards in the NBA. He has made the All-Star team the previous two seasons and has helped the Grizzlies rebuild since winning Rookie of the Year in 2020.
Powerade, a sports drink, announced a collaboration with him on Wednesday.However, The Washington Post reported the next day that Morant had been involved in two instances that had been reported to police over the summer.
According to the Post, it received a sealed police report in which Morant was accused of hitting a teenage boy during a pickup game but claimed it was in self-defense. Morant was also accused of intimidating a mall security guard in the other incident.
Morant will at the very least miss the Grizzlies’ away games against the Clippers on Sunday and the Lakers on Tuesday.
Memphis is the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed, with a record of 38-24.