Ja Morant, the 25-year-old two-time All-Star of the Memphis Grizzlies, made big news—again—this past week during a game against the Miami Heat. He punctuated his majestic half-court three-pointer with a wicked unlimited-range finger-gun celebration. This occurred with 7:51 remaining in the first quarter, after Morant successfully drained a remarkable 25-foot shot. That electrifying moment was controversial as Morant’s display raised eyebrows among the officials and fans in attendance.
After finally hitting the basket, Morant took off on defense, his right arm out in the air. In the process, his left hand formed a gun gesture. The referees subsequently gave him a yellow card for the gesture. This move raised a lot of eyebrows to say the least, particularly in light of Morant’s recent past behavior. That he didn’t get a tech for whatever he did. Unfortunately, both him and Buddy Hield were given a notice and subsequently received double technical fouls for the same gesture during that game.
What makes this action particularly head-scratching is the context of a 25-game suspension handed down to Morant earlier this season. He went on to miss the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season. His punishment stemmed from the finding that his conduct was harmful to the league. The suspension came about as a result of a controversial incident dating back to May 2023. In the course of an Instagram livestream from a friend’s account, he waved around a firearm. This incident was the second time Morant had been punished by the NBA for such actions.
Yet even with all the off-court drama, Morant’s on-the-court play was still brilliant. He hit a contested 9-foot jump shot at the buzzer to win the game for his team. This clutch play earned him separation as the best player on the team. His ability to deliver under pressure highlights his skill and determination, traits that have made him a standout player in the league.
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