By: Richard Zhao

Ja Morant, the point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies, has been suspended for 25 games on Friday after waving around a gun in a social media video. This is the second time he has been suspended due to a gun-related incident.

The N.B.A. has been trying to maintain a progressive image, especially on the topic of gun violence. Despite Morant not explicitly breaking any of N.B.A.’s firearm rules, his video is damaging to the league’s cause. “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning,” N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver explained. He also added that the long length of the suspension was meant to show how reckless behavior will not be tolerated, with Morant serving as an example.

This is not the first time Morant has been suspended for a firearm-related incident. In early March, Morant was suspended for eight games after he live-streamed a video of him laughing and brandishing a gun. After that, one of Morant’s friends streamed a video of him waving a gun as he rode in a vehicle. The Grizzlies then suspended him indefinitely.

Unlike Morant’s cases, firearm incidents concerning other people have much lighter punishments. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) director, Tamika Tremaglio, said that Morant’s punishment was “not fair and consistent with past discipline.” Raymond Felton, a point guard for the University of North Carolina, was suspended for only four games in 2014 after pleading guilty to felony gun possession. Another example is basketball player Stephen Jackson who was suspended for only seven games after he pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness in 2007.

Morant apologized in a statement last Friday: “To the kids who look up to me, I’m sorry for failing you as a role model […]I promise I’m going to be better. To all of my sponsors, I’m going to be a better representation of our brands. And to all of my fans, I’m going to make it up to you, I promise.” He has asked for a chance to prove that “I’m a better man than I’ve been showing you.” Only time will tell if he lives up to his responsibility as a role model and professional athlete.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/16/sports/basketball/ja-morant-grizzlies-suspended-nba.html