Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been handed a suspension and will be away from the team for at least two games.
The team’s announcement came after Morant — the NBA superstar who was accused of flashing a gun at and punching a teen over the summer after a pick-up game — went viral when an Instagram Live video surfaced in which he appears to be touting a gun at a strip club.
In the video, All-Star guard Morant appeared to be wearing the diamond pendant that he was gifted by Nike at the NBA All-Star Game in February.
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It is unclear exactly when the video is from as Instagram Live videos delete when they are concluded and if what Morant flashed was an actual firearm.
“We are aware of a social media post involving Ja Morant and are investigating,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement.
The Grizzlies later confirmed in a one-sentence statement Morant would “be away from the team for at least the next two games”.
Morant, who later deleted both his Instagram and Twitter accounts, also released a statement,
“I take full responsibility for my actions last night,” Morant said.
“I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organisation for letting you down.
“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.”
On Wednesday, the Washington Post published an extensive story based on several issues Morant has had off the court.
He also drew criticism for celebrating a 3-point shot with a finger-gun reaction the next night.
In an incident that was previously covered, Morant was accused of repeatedly punching a 17-year-old boy in the head after a dispute in a pick-up basketball game at Morant’s house.
Morant, 23, claimed self defence in the incident, as the boy had thrown a basketball at his head before the NBA star started swinging.
The outlet also uncovered a previously unreported detail, in which the boy told police that Morant went into his house and later re-emerged with a gun in his waistband.
Morant filed a police report of his own on the incident, accusing the boy, a top Memphis-area basketball prospect, of threatening to return to the home and “light this place up like fireworks.”
The story also reported an incident in which a head of security at a mall said Morant “threatened” him and that a member of Morant’s crew pushed him.
Morant’s agent, Jim Tanner, called the Washington Post report “irresponsible and defamatory.”
After the story was widely circulated, Morant drew criticism for doing a gun celebration in a game against the Rockets.
Morant was also investigated by the NBA earlier this season after members of the Pacers accused associates of Morant of pointing a red laser at them following a confrontation.
The NBA said in a statement its investigation into the alleged incident with the Pacers “could not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon.”
In a matchup between the two top-ranked teams in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies lost in Denver 113-97 on Saturday morning (AEDT). Morant had 27 points and 10 assists in the losing effort.
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The Grizzlies, who sit in first place in the Southwest Division with a 38-24 record, next play the Clippers on Sunday and the Lakers on Tuesday. They hold a six-game lead over Dallas for the division lead as the season enters its final quarter.
Morant has been one of the NBA’s best young stars in his first four seasons with the Grizzlies, earning two All-Star selections, a Rookie of the Year award and last year’s Most Improved Player award.
The 23-year-old this season has averaged 27.1 points per game through 53 games, while also adding 8.2 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Parts of this article were initially published on the New York Post and were republished with permission.