Ja Morant sees the messages. If he doesn’t, it doesn’t take long for the negative comments to get back to the Memphis Grizzlies star.
“I’m real aware,” Morant said after Thursday’s win against the Miami Heat.
Morant’s name surfaced in headlines again this week after a technical foul against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. This time, Morant’s gun gesture that led to a technical foul was being reviewed by the NBA.
A warning was issued on Thursday by the NBA. Hours later, Morant did the celebration again after making a 3-pointer in the first quarter against the Heat. The league fined Morant $75,000 on Friday, noting that Morant did the gun motion twice.
“Morant was previously warned by the league office that this gesture could be interpreted in a negative light,” the NBA’s statement read.
The Grizzlies declined to comment on the NBA’s decision to fine Morant.
Ja Morant’s NBA troubles include suspensions over gun videos
Morant has a noted history with guns. He was suspended indefinitely in March 2023 after brandishing a gun in a Denver-area nightclub on Instagram Live.
Two months later, another Instagram Live video of Morant brandishing a gun surfaced. He was suspended the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season for conduct detrimental to the league.
Morant felt “guilt” as the Grizzlies struggled at the beginning of the 2023-24 season and eventually finished with a 27-55 record.
How Ja Morant responded to gun gesture
As Morant’s situation against Golden State became a league-wide talking point on Wednesday, Morant took to his personal Instagram page. A photo appeared on his Instagram story with words inside of a brown box.
“Some people will only love you if you fit into their box … Don’t be afraid to disappoint,” the post read.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Morant has slowly gravitated back to the bubbling personality he had before March 2023.
Morant became more sheltered in 2023. He was conscious of what music would be playing in the locker room when reporters came around, and he was also being much more selective with the way he answered questions by pointing out to reporters how he feels his words would previously be twisted.
When the 2024-25 season came along, his two main goals were being happy and being available.
“A happy Ja is a scary Ja,” Morant said before the season.
While the Grizzlies star has been frustrated with results at times, his openness has gradually become more reminiscent of pre-March 2023. Part of that is Morant’s growth and confidence in being himself, despite the negative comments.
“I’m kind of used it,” Morant said on Thursday. “I was pretty much a villain for two years now. Every little thing – if somebody can say something negative about me, it’s going to be out there. Yeah, I don’t care anymore.”
Why was Ja Morant fined? Other NBA players do gun celebration
Morant’s $75,000 fine will start a conversation around the league. Sure, the Grizzlies star has a history with brandishing guns, but based on the league’s statement, the 3-point gun celebration can be viewed in a negative light.
The celebration is one Morant has done for most of the season, despite gaining steam this week. It also isn’t a celebration particular to Morant.
Several NBA players use a similar celebration. Grizzlies point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. does a similar version of the celebration after each made 3-point shot.
Around the league on Thursday alone, the Heat bench, Pippen, LeBron James and Austin Reaves were among the players to break out a similar version of the celebratory 3-point celebration.
The NBA has not issued a league-wide statement on the future of the celebration, and no other players have been fined. As long as that is the case, Morant’s actions will be viewed in a different light than the rest of the league.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
