(Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)
For the second time, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was seen brandishing a gun during an Instagram Live, and it has resulted in some substantial discipline for him.
On Friday, the NBA suspended him for 25 games without pay, and that suspension will start once the 2023-24 season begins this fall.
Morant faced a shorter suspension from both the league and the Grizzlies a few months ago after his first gun-related Instagram Live incident in early March.
The NBA Players Association, the labor union that represents every player in the league, issued a statement criticizing the sentence handed down, saying it was “excessive and inappropriate.”
The National Basketball Players Association is unhappy with the length of Ja Morant’s suspension and the arbitrary nature of the conditions for his return. “We believe it’s excessive and inappropriate for a number of reasons…” NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio says. pic.twitter.com/HVhFYSELne
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2023
In addition to levying a suspension, the NBA also made his return to the team contingent on some conditions that must be met.
This suspension could effectively singlehandedly torpedo any chance the Grizzlies have of competing for the world championship next season.
Morant is by far their best player, not to mention one of the league’s best and brightest young stars, and although they have played well without him for short periods of time, it’s hard to imagine them winning well over half of their games for an extended stretch with him at home.
He put up 26.6 points and 8.1 assists a game in the regular season as Memphis won 51 games to clinch the second seed in the Western Conference.
However, their season came to a sudden end when LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers put them away in the first round of the playoffs in six games.
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