The last few days have been tumultuous for Memphis Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant. He has found himself in some hot water, and it could be quite a while until we see him back on an NBA court playing again.
Morant and his group of people have been in the headlines recently for all of the wrong reasons. Multiple incidents involving him have surfaced recently, with new details emerging of reports that were shared previously and new altercations coming to light.
The most recent straw was Morant reportedly brandishing a gun while at a club during an Instagram Live video on early Saturday morning. Morant will be away from the team and seeking help while the league investigates.
He was going to be away for two games, but it now seems like his time away will be longer. Head coach Taylor Jenkins revealed that there is no real timetable for the situation as they wait to see how things play out.
“We have said that it’s going to be at least these two games,” Jenkins said. “I mean, this is going be an ongoing healing process. … It’s really not a timetable situation.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ja Morant & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
Jenkins said that the franchise is going to support Morant through this process. But, they need to also hold him accountable for his actions. If he is found to have been carrying a gun with him, there could be very harsh repercussions against him.
“We’re taking this very seriously,” Jenkins said. “There’s a supportive element for someone that’s got to get better and needs some help. But then there’s also accountability to the team that we’ve got to stand for.
“Obviously nationwide, leaguewide, there’s been a lot of attention on gun violence, and so for us, that’s the stance that we’ve taken about how we can support Ja throughout this growth opportunity. It’s a learning opportunity, and hopefully we can be better from it.”
Unfortunately for the Grizzlies and Morant, gun-related events have become commonplace. A lengthy suspension could be handed down by the league if Morant is founded to have traveled on the team plane with a firearm.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ja Morant & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
Teammates Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones both spoke about Morant, as they believe he will take the necessary steps to help put these incidents behind them and move on.
“He’s a resilient guy, tough-minded guy,” Desmond Bane said. “Whenever he’s ready to come back, we’ll welcome him with open arms.” “I’m confident that Ja is going to handle his business and continue to do what he needs to do to get himself in the right place,” Jones said. “When it’s time to continue to play basketball, he’ll be ready … whenever it may be.”
The league’s rules about firearms being in an NBA facility or when traveling for league business stems from an incident with Gilbert Arenas in 2010. He was suspended indefinitely for bringing weapons into the locker room. This could result in a suspension of 50+ games.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ja Morant & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
“The focus right now is Ja’s taking on the responsibility to really get the help he needs to get into a better place,” Jenkins said. “But also … to be in a better place to embrace the responsibilities and expectations as a member of this team. That’s what we’re going to support him through, but we’re also going to hold him accountable, too.”
The Grizzlies are now 38-25 on the season. They remain in second place in the Western Conference, but their hold on that spot is tenuous as the Sacramento Kings are only a half-game behind them.
Falling out of the postseason altogether is improbable, but the Grizzlies are only 8.5 games ahead of the 13th-place Oklahoma City Thunder. The Western Conference standings are very congested and one lengthy skid could send the Grizzlies tumbling down the standings.
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