The NBA suspends Ja Morant with 25 games for his return to the old ways with weapons

SPORTS / By Carmen Gomaro

The career of one of the stars called to capture the future of the NBA began to go wrong a few months ago. And not precisely because of his performance on the court. As if determined to stumble his own brilliance, Ja Morant returned to his old ways. In other words, he showed himself again on social networks with firearms. The league, which already suspended him for eight games in March, announced this Friday that the Grizzlies point guard will not play the first 25 of next season.

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nba. Ja Morant: alcohol, weapons and strip clubs, the great abyss of the new NBA icon

Ja Morant: alcohol, weapons and strip clubs, the great abyss of the new NBA icon

A harsh and exemplary sanction, since in that period he will not receive his salary either (he will stop earning about 10 million dollars), as expected and how could it be otherwise. Because the genius of the colored dreadlocks was not punished with the first notice of the NBA. After serving the first penalty -Morant returned to the slopes after having gone through a center in Florida working with a psychologist and performing reiki and breathing techniques to control anxiety-, for a series of extra-sports incidents that included firearms with which he was seen in a Colorado club-, the 23-year-old point guard appeared again in an Instagram live on his friend Davante Pack's account a month ago. “I take responsibility for my actions, I apologize to my family, teammates, coach, fans and the city of Memphis. I will look for help”, he had admitted in the first instance.

The Grizzlies, eliminated in the playoffs in the first round by the Lakers, already had him suspended, although now Adam Silver, after an investigation, sentences him and argues, in a statement: “The possibility that other young people emulate Ja's behavior is particularly worrying. For Ja, basketball has to take a backseat right now.”

In addition to the appearances with weapons, the one who was rookie of the year in 2020 had starred in a series of controversial episodes off the slopes. In July 2022, weeks after Morant signed a five-year contract with the Grizzlies for more than $231 million, the manager of a Memphis mall reported threats and assaults on the player and his group of friends after an argument with Jamie, his mother. Days later, he was seen with a gun during an incident at a friendly match at his mansion in Tennessee.. As reported by The Washington Post, one of the non-professional players of the pachanga denounced him for beating him violently on several occasions.

Last January, the Pacers reported that their bus was targeted by a laser from a firearm from a van Morant was in after his game in Memphis.. It was precisely Devonte Pack who was sanctioned for a year without being able to attend Grizzlies games for various altercations.

The league statement emphasizes that the incident occurred “despite the fact that Morant had made commitments to the NBA and issued public statements stating that he was not going to repeat the conduct for which he had previously been sanctioned.”. In addition, the sanction includes certain conditions that the player must meet before returning. You also will not be able to participate in public league or team activities for the duration of your suspension, including preseason games.

“I have had time to reflect and realize the damage I have caused. I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis.. I will spend the suspension working on my own mental health and my decision-making (process), “the player later wrote, who asked:” I hope they give me the opportunity to show them over time that I am a better man than I have ever been. been proving.”