Ja Morant has gone viral for all the wrong reasons once again. The Memphis Grizzlies guard was allegedly caught flashing a firearm on Instagram recently. The NBA world is aware that this is not the first time that Morant has done something like this. In March 2023, he flashed a gun on an Instagram Live when was in a str*p club in Denver.
Ja Morant was allegedly seen showing off a gun on IG Live yesterday 😳 pic.twitter.com/fdhjBbIn9c
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 14, 2023
At the time, his NBA career was under question, as many believed that he could have brought the gun on the team plane to Denver, where the Grizzlies to the Nuggets at the time. However, Colorado Police concluded that there was no proof to charge Ja with any crime. Despite this, the NBA suspended him for a total of 8 games, citing that his conduct was “Detrimental to the league.”
It has been the case this time around as well. The 23-year-old is suspended indefinitely right now, and the league is currently investigating the matter severely. This has led fans to question whether he will be arrested.
Ja Morant will not be arrested with respect to Tennessee’s gun laws
For those who don’t know, Morant lives in Tennessee with his family. Interestingly, this was where he has been rumored to punch a 17-year-old boy back in 2022. This was one of the controversies he has been involved in as well. According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee is a “permit-less carry state.”
This means that Ja has not committed any crimes by flashing a firearm on social media. However, that doesn’t mean that he would not be suspended. Many claim that he has not committed any wrongdoing, but some believe that the NBA, being his ’employers,’ have decided to suspend Ja for the time being, in an attempt to discipline him.
The government is not disciplining Ja Morant, his employer is. He’s been suspended, not arrested and prosecuted.
— Fred Lewis (@Fred51266915) May 15, 2023
This is about Ja Morant’s employers. He’s not being arrested.
— Cole Smith (@ColeSmith78) May 15, 2023
The exact timeline of Ja’s suspension remains a huge question mark, as Adam Silver recently revealed that the investigation is still ongoing. He admitted to being genuinely shocked after watching the video, and disclosed that he is “Assuming the worst.”
“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw this weekend — that video. Now, we’re in the process of investigating it.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke on Ja Morant after his latest video. pic.twitter.com/W0lX4E2fa4
— ESPN (@espn) May 16, 2023
Ja could be on the sidelines for the beginning of the 2023-24 NBA season, multiple sources claim. This will depend on the NBA’s investigations and Ja’s conduct from here on.