DENVER — Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant has been benched for at least the next two games after a video he posted on social media appeared to show him displaying a gun at a Denver nightclub early Saturday, the NBA said.
The team announced Saturday that Morant, 23, “will be away from the team for at least the next two games.” That means he will not play in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers or Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported.
According to NBA.com, the two-time All-Star live-streamed himself holding what appeared to be a gun at the nightclub. The video was streamed by Morant to his Instagram page and was not archived once the video ended.
“We are aware of a social media post involving Ja Morant and are investigating,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement.
Morant began his Instagram Live session at 3:19 a.m. MST, several hours after the Grizzlies’ 113-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets, ESPN reported. The All-Star guard, who was shirtless and rapping to the music, could be seen holding up an object in his left hand that appeared to be a gun, according to the sports news network.
If the NBA probe uncovers wrongdoing, it could fine or suspend Morant, according to NBA.com. If the benching is only for two games, Morant, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, could return to action in the Grizzlies’ home game Thursday against Golden State.
The video came on the heels of a Washington Post story published on Wednesday that detailed two incidents involving Morant this summer. The incidents did not result in any arrests, ESPN reported.
In one incident, a 17-year-old boy alleged that Morant left his house with a gun in his waistband after a fight between the two after a pickup basketball game in the player’s backyard, the Post reported. The other incident involved a confrontation in a parking lot with a mall security guard, according to the newspaper.
“Any and every allegation involving a firearm has been fully investigated and could not be corroborated,” Jim Tanner, Morant’s agent, said in a statement after the Post story. “This includes the NBA investigation last month, in which they found no evidence.”