NBA commissioner Adam Silver told Malika Andrews of ESPN that he was “shocked” when he saw Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant wave a gun again during an Instagram Live video.
Silver, who met with Morant in New York after the All-Star’s first gun incident in March, spoke to Andrews at the NBA’s draft lottery Tuesday in Chicago.
“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw this weekend that video,” Silver said. “Now, we’re in the process of investigating it, and we’ll figure out exactly what happened to the best we can. The video is a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst.”
The Grizzlies have suspended Morant from all team activities. The two-time All-Star released a statement after Silver spoke to Andrews and said he’s “committed to continuing to work on myself.”
“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” Morant said in the statement. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies & Adam Silver Updates
Morant, 23, was previously suspended in March after he was seen during an Instagram Live video holding up a handgun while intoxicated at a Denver nightclub. Silver thought Morant understood the consequences of his first IG video after meeting with the talented guard.
“We talked directly about the consequences first,” Silver said. “Before we got to a subsequent potential to have done something wrong, we were very focused on the misconduct that was in front of us at the time. Frankly, most of our conversation was about how incredibly serious the first incident was of waving a firearm on social media.
” Again, 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. And we spoke for a long time about not just the consequences that could have on his career, but the safety issues around it — [Morant] could’ve injured, maimed, killed himself, someone else with an act like that — and also the acknowledgment that he’s a star.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies & Adam Silver Updates
“He has an incredibly huge following, and [we discussed] my concern — and I thought he shared with me — that millions, if not tens of millions, of kids globally would have seen him do something that was celebrating in a way that act of using a firearm in that fashion.”
Morant averaged 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 8.1 assists this season while shooting 46.6% from the field, 30.7% from beyond the arc and 74.8% from the free-throw line. The Grizzlies lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in six games.
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