When Grizzlies guard Ja Morant was unraveled, the team recently had a players-only meeting aimed at him, according to a new report.
Morant was banned for two games â and later deemed indefinitely out of action by coach Taylor Jenkins â after posting a video of himself pointing a gun at a strip club on his Instagram Story.
And there has been at least one attempt recently to change Morantâs course The Athleteâs Shams Charaniawhen Steven Adams reportedly chaired a players-only meeting and encouraged his teammates to show âbetter discipline on the roadâ.
According to the report, the Veterans Center told his teammates âthey have to stay away from going out when theyâre on the road,â though it was obvious who his words were largely intended for.
âIâm told that when Steven Adams spoke up, those present knew exactly who he was addressing,â Charania said. âIt was none other than Ja Morant.â
Ja Morant is indefinitely away from the Grizzlies following a series of gun-related incidents
Steven Adams reportedly chaired a players-only meetup primarily aimed at Morant
Keep reporting @TheRally for the latest surrounding Grizzlies star Ja Morant â and details on a recent players-only get-together where a veteran pushed for more discipline on the road: pic.twitter.com/ICXC6YlrXF
â Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 6, 2023
Morant was seen dancing topless at a strip club on his Instagram just hours after the Grizzlies lost in Denver last Friday when he appeared to be holding a gun next to his head. Police in Glendale, Colorado â a suburb of Denver â are now investigating whether Morant violated gun laws.
He was suspended for two games and apologized, but Jenkins said he âneeded to get betterâ.
Before the teamâs loss to the Clippers in their first game without the two-time All-Star, he said, âWe said itâs going to be at least those two games.
âI mean, thatâs going to be an ongoing healing processâŠItâs really not a schedule situation.â
âWe take this very seriously,â Jenkins added. âThereâs a supportive element to someone who needs to get better and who needs some help. But then there is also the responsibility to the team that we have to stand up for.
âClearly, there has been a lot of attention nationwide and league-wide to gun violence and for us, this is the stance we are taking to support Yes during this growth opportunity. Itâs a learning opportunity and hopefully we can get better from it.â
Morant of Grizzlies was spotted pretending to shoot a gun in celebration during a game this week
Morant released a statement saying he would take some time to seek help
While the Grizzlies are second in the Western Conference with a 38-25 record, Morantâs off-court engagements â as well as Brandon Clarkeâs season-ending Achilles injury â threatened to derail Memphisâ season.
Morant has been involved in four alleged gun-related incidents in recent months, with the strip club video being just the latest in a string of controversies.
He was sued in September for allegedly punching a Tennessee teenager in the face during a pickup game, something the NBA star described as self-defense.
New details from police interviews with The Washington Post revealed that the 17-year-old told investigators at the Shelby County Sheriffâs Office that the point guard hit him â12 to 13 times,â adding Morantâs boyfriend also hit him âfour to four times âbeaten five times.â
The teenager claimed that when Morant got up to leave after the fight, he went into his house and reappeared with a gun.
In a baffling incident just days after the report was released, Morant stirred up even more controversy â this time at an NBA game â when he hosted a gun celebration after watching a teammate shoot a three-pointer.
The unsavory moment came last week when the Grizzlies took on the Rockets and Morant watched from the bench as Desmond Bane sank a three-pointer in front of his teammates.
Morant appeared to hold a gun aloft in a live Instagram video in the early hours of Saturday morning
Morant was cheered by the shot and was celebrated by pretending to fire a gun at Bane as he ran up the ground in defense.
Additionally, after the Grizzliesâ game with the Pacers on Jan. 29, there was an unsavory incident when acquaintances of Ja Morant âaggressively confrontedâ members of Indianaâs touring party and pointed a red laser at them.
The athlete said Morant was driving in an SUV with his friend Vomete Pack and another person when a red laser was pointed at the Pacers bus.
Two people who spoke anonymously to the publication said they believed the laser was attached to a gun, while a nearby Indiana security guard claimed âitâs 100 percent a gun.â However, the laser has not been confirmed as being attached to a weapon.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nba/article-11828751/Grizzlies-held-players-meeting-Steven-Adams-directed-words-none-Ja-Morant.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Grizzlies held a players-only meetup as Steven addressed Adamsâ words to ânone but Ja Morant.â