With the Memphis Grizzlies trailing Miami in the first quarter Thursday night, Ja Morant triggered a three to cut into the deficit of a game he would later win on a buzzer-beating free-throw line fadeaway, 110-108. But it’s his earlier action that might be getting the most headlines tomorrow. After sinking the triple, Morant once again extended his arms in the gun gesture he made Tuesday, versus Golden State, that sparked a league investigation.
For Tuesday’s incident, the NBA ultimately settled on warnings to both Morant and Warriors guard Buddy Hield, who also made the gesture, saying the moves did not seem to carry violent intent. Is it any surprise that Morant, already suspended twice in his career for gun-related infractions, followed up the principal’s office summons by committing the same crime?
Ja Morant Is Not One To Let Critics Affect Him
As many people have pointed out, Morant is not the only player–far from it–to use the celebration. It is his history, amounting to 33 games in gun-related suspensions, that drew the league’s scrutiny. Still, taking issue with the gesture when players use some form of it on a nightly basis seems petty.
Morant doesn’t let the league’s watchful eye bother him. “I’m kind of used to it,” he said. “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. So, yeah. I don’t care no more.”
While Morant may have a valid gripe, at this point it’s his inability to respond to correction, justified or not, that is most perplexing. It’s what hiked his second ban to more than triple the length of his first for brandishing a weapon on an Instagram live stream. Given the NBA’s displeasure with repeat offenders, although the league office waived it off the first time, the Grizzlies star could incur unwanted consequences at the worst time as Memphis jostles for playoff position.
Since his suspension to start the 2023-24 season, Morant has not received further penalties. Will that change after Thursday night?
Memphis Grizzlies Break Slump Thanks to Morant’s Second Straight 30-Piece
Morant followed up 36 points in the loss to Golden State with 30 against the Heat. A subpar long-range shooter, he has gone 8-15 from distance over the last two games. On the season, he entered Thursday’s game averaging 22.7 points and 7.4 assists on 45.4/30.0/82.8% shooting splits.
His game-winner over Miami center Ke’el Ware nullified Tyler Herro’s go-ahead floater for the Heat on the possession prior, bumping Memphis to 45-32 in the standings, good for sixth place. Just half a game behind the Warriors in 5th, and two back of third-place Denver, the Grizzlies have a chance to make up meaningful ground with a strong finish and some help. But time is running out to secure a home playoff series.
They can’t afford to slip, either. Behind them, representing the first play-in team, Minnesota owns the same record but Memphis has the tiebreaker. The Clippers trail by a single game in eighth.
The Grizzlies’ win over Miami broke a four-game losing streak, the tail end of a stretch in which they dropped seven of eight. They don’t have an easy path ahead of them regardless of how the standings shake out. If the season ended today, Memphis would draw Denver in the first round; the Rockets, Lakers or Warriors, all possible opponents, are hardly desirable foes.
With a healthy core of Morant, Desmond Bane (22.4 PPG) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (18.8 PPG), the Grizzlies can make a run in the playoffs. But only if they stay focused. For Morant, that means avoiding silly mistakes that could keep him off the floor.
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