By: Jeffrey Wu

In May, Ja Morant, an N.B.A. basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies, was suspended for the second time after flashing a gun on social media. His suspension will last 25 games, or roughly one-third of the 2023-24 season.

In early March, Ja Morant live-streamed himself waving a firearm after a game, resulting in an 8-game suspension.

“I take full responsibility for my actions last night,” he apologized in a tweet. “I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down.” He also mentioned trying to reduce stress through alternative means, which he supposedly accomplished by going to a health facility in Florida.

Then, on May 13, one of Morant’s friends streamed him on Instagram waving a gun while riding in a vehicle.

“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” Morant apologized again, according to 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.”

N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver was “shocked” by Morant’s repeated recklessness after viewing the video, especially given Silver had a talk with Morant about the impacts of his behavior after his first suspension.

“Public figures have a responsibility to be held accountable for how they engage on these kinds of life-and-death issues,” said Kris Brown, the president of Brady, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing gun violence. “It’s not a small thing. People could die if they handle firearms in such a cavalier way, and they do every day.”

The NBA has worked tirelessly in recent years to establish a reputation for advocating gun safety. Many coaches and players, including LeBron James and Stephen Curry, have addressed the issue. Thus, Morant’s actions seem intentional – as if trying to ruin the N.B.A.’s image of non-violence with guns.

“At this point, it doesn’t matter until he follows through,” said Zach Kleiman, the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies. “I couldn’t care less about words. Ja has to prove it.”

Sources:

https://twitter.com/_tandemse/status/1632128813088866312

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

https://people.com/ja-morant-grizzlies-gm-says-he-couldnt-care-less-apology-7552551