Can Ja Morant be banned for 50 games for Memphis Grizzlies after carrying a gun in the team plane
Ja Morant has made “difficult decisions and poor choices,” for which he must accept responsibility, according to coach Taylor Jenkins, but there is no definite date for his return to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Morant was absent from the team’s games against the Clippers on Sunday and the Lakers on Tuesday when they were in Los Angeles, despite the NBA looking into a social media post in which he appeared to be holding a gun.
After finishing his game in Colorado, Morant streamed the video of himself in a nightclub early on Saturday morning holding what appeared to be a gun.
Can Ja Morant be suspended for 50 games for carrying a gun in Memphis Grizzlies team plane
On Monday, Colorado police said they were investigating Morant’s actions to see if he may have broken any laws.
Ja Morant Reportedly Brought A Gun On The Team Plane, Could Be Suspended For 50 Games.😬😱✈️🔫🏀⛹🏽 pic.twitter.com/27pXNav3ek
— Raphousetv (RHTV) (@raphousetv2) March 6, 2023
Whoever made this about Ja Morant should deserve a raise 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/CXbbfS2qav
— P a y W a l k e r (@ThePayWalker) March 4, 2023
Why Ja Morant might be banned for 50 games
The Grizzlies expect Ja Morant to miss at least two games, but with the lack of a return date and the potential for an NBA fine, his absence may last much longer.
Ja Morant, a star player for the Grizzlies, is involved in a complete disaster. Memphis itself is unsure of how long it will have to endure the consequences.
How is Ja Morant subject to a 50-game ban?
He is technically not suspended right now. Morant missed at least two games for the Grizzlies up to Tuesday’s game against the Lakers.
There is no set timetable for his return, however, as he continues to work on himself and his coping mechanisms.
Grizzlies coach Jenkins on how long Morant could be out:
"There's not a definitive timeline. We have said that it's gonna be at least these two games, we're taking it one day at a time. This is going to be an ongoing healing process… it's really not a timetable situation.
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) March 6, 2023
While Morant’s decision-making and way of thinking are obviously concerning, there is also a very real chance that he may face a lengthy NBA punishment, as one Reddit user pointed out.
Shortly following a game in Denver, Morant showed the gun. According to the NBA’s gun policy, athletes are not allowed to “possess a firearm of any sort” when “travelling on any NBA-related business.”
That would be a grave breach of the law if Morant had brought his gun on the road trip.
We will see how the Ja Morant situation develops.
There are likely legal consequences because he is an out of state resident viewed in possession of a gun.
Here’s the CBA language for NBA discipline pic.twitter.com/S0cBpiGthC
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 4, 2023
A 50-game suspension could be imposed as punishment for breaching that regulation.
Given that, it makes sense that the Grizzlies have treated this incident seriously. This is especially true given the recent string of off-court incidents Morant has been involved in.