Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies’ star guard, has been fined $75,000 by the NBA for mimicking the act of pointing a long gun during a game. The controversial gestures occurred in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies’ 110-108 victory over the Miami Heat on April 3. This occurrence comes on the heels of the league scrutinizing Morant’s behavior. He had done this kind of gesture before, during a home game against the Golden State Warriors on April 1.
On April 4, the NBA announced it had issued Morant a fine. This move raised some eyebrows about his decision to continue using those gestures, particularly given his record of prior bad acts. Kenny Smith, a former NBA player and current analyst, commented on the matter, stating, “He has a history that maybe he shouldn’t be doing that.”
Morant’s actions have rightfully drawn the scorn of millions. They expose a worrisome pattern of antagonistic behavior that should worry fans and political commentators alike. This was not the first time he had gone unpunished for serious violations of gun safety as an officer. In case you missed it, earlier this season, Morant was suspended for 25 games after a video of him waving a gun while in a car emerged. He had previously been suspended for eight games after brandishing a firearm in a Denver-area nightclub.
Despite the backlash, Morant expressed little surprise about the fine and remarked, “just for showing people what’s pretty much been evident for the last two years.” His teammate, Vince Williams Jr., weighed in on Morant’s financial move to reduce the impact of these fines. “He gets to save his money. Anything that benefits him saving his money, I’m all for it, honestly,” said Williams Jr.
Considering all that’s happened since then, Morant has doubled down on his use of the gun-toting celebration. After a recent shootaround, he stated, “That’s my celebration now until somebody else has a problem with it, and I’ll find another one.” This comment suggests that his plan is to keep playing these celebratory gestures that drummed up such a storm of controversy.
Shaquille O’Neal recently weighed in on the topic. He made clear that Morant is acutely aware of the gravity of his misconduct. “He knows what he’s doing because y’all are going to keep talking about it,” O’Neal remarked, suggesting that Morant’s actions may be an attempt to remain in the spotlight.
Morant’s performance on the court remains strong. He notably shot 5-of-13 from three-point range during the game against the Heat. Perhaps the most enduring quality about the human highlight reel is his ability to enthrall fans with his flashy play and end-zone celebrations.
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