Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies raises the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Five of the Western Conference Playoffs at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee April 26, 2023.
Justin Ford | Getty Images
The National Basketball Association suspended Ja Morant for 25 games after the Memphis Grizzlies star brandished a gun for the second time on live video, the league said Friday.
Morant’s suspension will take effect at the start of the upcoming season. The NBA said Morant will have to meet unspecified “conditions” before returning to court and will not be able to participate in team or league activities beyond preseason games.
Morant, a 23-year-old NBA All-Star, first brandished a gun in a nightclub livestream in March, leading to an eight-game suspension. He then showed off a firearm in a car with friends during a second video stream last month.
“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and troubling given his similar behavior in March for which he was already suspended for eight games,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement Friday.
Silver added that “basketball needs to take a back seat at this point. Prior to returning to play, he will need to formulate and execute a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior .”
In a statement to ESPN on Friday, Morant apologized and promised he “will get better”. He said he would work on his mental health during the off-season.
“I hope you give me the chance to prove to you over time that I’m a better man than what I’ve shown you,” he said.
Morant is endorsed by Nike. In a statement Friday, the athletic apparel giant said: “We are pleased that Ja is taking responsibility and prioritizing his well-being. We will continue to support him on and off the field.”
He is also supported by Coca-Cola‘s Powerade, but the liquor company does pulled an ad with the NBA star and removed him from social media.
— CNBC’s Jessica Golden contributed to this report