Police in Colorado are investigating Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant after he streamed himself on Instagram Live holding a gun at a Denver nightclub early Saturday morning (March 4).
The Glendale Police Department confirmed the incident took place in Glendale, a small enclave surrounded by Denver known for its strip clubs and shopping centers. The department said they are investigating Morant’s actions and whether he may have broken any laws, and although they did not receive any calls or complaints regarding Morant, they began looking into his actions Saturday (March 4) after learning about the video circulating online. While Colorado is an open-carry state, it is illegal to possess a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
Morant was already suspended for two games by the Grizzlies for the video, and did not travel with the team to Los Angeles to play the Clippers last Sunday and the Lakers tomorrow (March 7). The NBA is also investigating the incident.
Statement from the Memphis Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/CLB2TG5nnI
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) March 4, 2023
The livestream happened on Morant’s account the same night Memphis lost 113-97 against the Nuggets in Denver. League rules prohibit a player from possessing a firearm while on team property or traveling on team business, so if Morant was found to be carrying the weapon from Memphis to Denver, he could be facing serious fines and/or suspension.
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins hinted that Morant could be out for longer than the original two games, saying there’s “not a definitive timeline” for the guard’s return.
“We’re taking it one day at a time,” Jenkins said in his pregame press conference before the team’s loss against the Clippers on Sunday. “This is going to be an ongoing healing process. … It’s really not a timetable situation.”
"There's not a definitive timeline… this is going to be an ongoing healing process… it's not a timetable situation"
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins on when Ja Morant will return to the team
(via @MarkG_Medina)pic.twitter.com/MkjPEIDxnO
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 6, 2023
This is not Morant’s first time in the legal spotlight, as he was the subject of a Washington Post story published Wednesday (March 1) that outlined two incidents involving the young star last summer where police reports were filed but no arrests were made. In the first report, police say Morant and a group of at least nine of his friends had a “verbal confrontation” with a Memphis mall security guard until someone in the group allegedly pushed the guard in the head. Four days later, Morant was said to have repeatedly punched a 17-year-old boy in the head during a pickup basketball game at Morant’s house, with the teenager claiming Morant went inside and came back out with his hand on a gun in his waistband.
Morant was also reportedly involved in a Jan. 29 incident that occurred after the Grizzlies’ 112-100 win over the Pacers, in which acquaintances of Morant confronted members of the Pacers traveling party near the team’s bus in the loading area of the Grizzlies home arena. The Pacers’ team members also said a red light was trained on them from a nearby SUV, which Morant was riding in, and that they believed the light was attached to a gun. This stemmed from the game itself, where Morant’s father, Tee, and friend, Davonte Pack, engaged in a verbal back-and-forth with a number of Pacers players that resulted in Pack being removed from the arena.
Morant, his agent and the Grizzlies did not speak on the allegations for these previous incidents, and after NBA investigations there were no repercussions for the team or their starting point guard. However, the nightclub video produced a statement from Morant, who said he takes “full responsibility” for his actions on Saturday. He also deactivated his Instagram and Twitter accounts.
“I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire organization for letting you down,” the statement read. “I’m going to take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being.”
Grizzlies’ Ja Morant releases statement and says he is going to take time away to receive help: pic.twitter.com/5TxS7Qh3kJ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 4, 2023
Morant, the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year and an All-Star for the second time this season, is averaging 27.1 points, 8.2 assists and 6.0 rebounds a game this year. The Grizzlies sit second in the West with a 38-25 record.
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