The NBA penalizes Ja Morad with an 8-game suspension

Ja Morad fell aside after the NBA’s investigation concluded after the Grizzlies’ American Guard displayed a gun live on Instagram.

The league’s investigation revealed that the weapon in question did not belong to the 23-year-old regional player, nor was it the person who brought it to the club. The investigation also did not find that Morand possessed the gun while traveling with the team or at an NBA facility, and Colorado authorities did not find sufficient grounds to charge him with a felony.

Following this finding, the NBA decided to penalize Ja Morad with an 8-game suspension for which he is not being paid by his team. Thus, the player has an opportunity to return to the court against the Dallas Mavericks on March 20, but that will be difficult then, since the time he spent in a special program in Florida was outside of practice and it will take another few days to get back into a competitive rhythm.

Before the punishment was announced, Morand also had a face-to-face meeting with League Commissioner Adam Silver, who said:

“Ja’s behavior was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous. Given his large following and influence, especially among young fans who look up to him, it also has a serious impact. He has expressed sincere remorse for his behavior.

Ja also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and understands that his obligations and responsibilities to the Memphis Grizzlies and the larger NBA community extend far beyond his play on the court.”