The high-flying guard is in hot water again, and it might cost him a lot more.
Back in March, NBA superstar Ja Morant got in hot water for brandishing a gun in a nightclub. The league responding accordingly, handing the Memphis Grizzlies guard an eight-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the league.
After the incident and the corresponding punishment, one would reckon that Morant would have learned his lesson and cleaned his act up. After all, he did vow to change the narrative and “show who Ja really is.”
Fast forward to today and it appears Morant has not learned his lesson.
And on Wednesday, speaking with ESPN at the NBA Draft Lottery, a visibly exasperated NBA commissioner Adam Silver talked about Morant’s latest gun-flashing incident.
“We talked directly about the consequences [of Morant’s first gun-flashing incident back in March]. We were very focused on the misconduct that was in front of us at that time and, frankly, most of our conversation was about how incredibly serious the first incident was of waving a firearm on social media,” Silver said, recalling his lengthy conversation with Morant two months ago. “The consequences there, an eight-game suspension, was pretty serious and something that he, at least to me, seemed to take incredibly seriously in that time.”
A somber-looking Silver also shared his concerns about Morant setting a bad example to his “incredibly huge following”—including millions of kids globally who might “see him [Morant] as having done something that was celebrating in a way that act of using a firearm in that fashion.”
Pivoting to Morant’s latest incident, Silver admitted to being “shocked” upon seeing the high-flyer’s latest video, before hinting at the NBA potentially throwing the book at the young guard.
“We’re in the process of investigating it [Morant’s latest gun-waving video], and I’m assuming the worst,” Silver admitted. “We’ll figure it out.”
Based on Silver’s tone and demeanor in the interview, it appears a lengthy suspension and hefty fine are looming for the 23-year-old All Star—if not more.