Ja Morant filmed with toy gun day after second firearm incident
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Ja Morant is doing what he can to back up the claim that the gun he was seen brandishing in an Instagram Live video that led to a hefty NBA suspension was a toy.
The Grizzlies superstar filmed himself with a toy gun a day after the May 13 incident — his second wielding an alleged firearm — that will cost him 25 games next season, according to a video obtained by TMZ.
The video, which TMZ reported he sent to family and friends to explain his actions, shows a right arm with identical tattoos to Morant holding a gun lighter being used to light two candles.
At the end of the video Morant appears to say: “You hold it, and everything comes out.”
Morant, 23, was filmed on a live video in the passenger seat of the car with friend Davonte Pack on May 13 flashing what appeared to be a gun.
Morant’s camp floated the claim it was a toy gun back on June 7.
During an interview on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Thursday, Adam Silver questioned whether it should matter if the gun was real or not.
“It’s something that I’m thinking a lot about because, again, I’m not going to get into specifics about the investigation — but in fact, if you’re live streaming something to the world that looks exactly like a gun and in a frankly reckless manner, should it matter whether or not it’s a real gun?” Silver said.
The league seemed to back up that thought when they issued Morant’s suspension Friday.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst estimated Morant’s current ban could be costing him between $50-60 million.
“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” Silver said in a statement upon issuing the punishment.
“The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.”
Morant, who also suspended indefinitely from all Grizzlies team activities, issued an apology for his actions.
“I’ve had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I’ve caused,” Morant said Friday in a statement. “I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis. To Adam Silver, [Grizzlies GM] Zach Kleiman and [Grizzlies owner] Robert Pera — who gave me the opportunity to be a professional athlete and have supported me — I’m sorry for the harm that I’ve done.
“To the kids who look up to me, I’m sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I’m going to be better. To all of my sponsors, I’m going to be a better representation of our brands. And to all of my fans, I’m going to make it up to you, I promise.”
The incident came two months after Morant streamed a video live of himself holding a firearm while partying at Shotgun Willie’s strip club in Glendale, Colo. on March 4.
He was suspended eight games by the NBA for the incident, and during his meeting with Silver, blamed “heavy drinking” for his actions that night.
Morant averaged 26.2 points, 8.1 assists and 5.9 assists last season, leading the Grizzlies to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference before being eliminated by the Lakers in six games in the first round of the playoffs.
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