Ja Morant Breaks Silence On Latest Gun-Related Social Media Incident
By Jason Hall
May 17, 2023
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant issued a statement Tuesday (May 16) night after he was once again shown holding a firearm in a social media video for the second time in less than two months.
"I know I've disappointed a lot of people who have supported me," Morant said via ESPN. "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."
Morant was seen holding a firearm in an Instagram Live video shared by the account @_dtap2 on Saturday (May 13), less than two months after having been suspended eight games for an Instagram Live video in which he appeared to be holding a firearm in a Denver nightclub during the 2022-23 regular season.
Ja Morant statement: “I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me. 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.”
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 17, 2023
"Honestly, I was shocked when I saw this weekend that video," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver while speaking with ESPN's Malika Andrews from the NBA's draft lottery in Chicago Tuesday night. "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."
Morant had previously enrolled in a Florida counseling facility during his suspension in order to learn how to better manage stress before meeting with Silver 11 days after the incident. The commissioner elected to suspend Morant for eight games without pay due to conduct detrimental to the league, which included six previous games that Morant had already missed and referred to the point guard's conduct as "irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous."