For the second time in two months, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has been seen brandishing a gun on Instagram.
Morant was seen on Instagram Live in the driver’s seat of a car holding a gun while singing rapper YoungBoy NBA’s song “1.5.”
After brandishing the gun, the person recording the video immediately turned the camera away from Morant for the rest of the clip that surfaced.
In March, Morant was seen at a Denver strip club holding a gun in an Instagram video that sparked a police and league investigation. Eventually, he was suspended for eight games by the NBA.
It’s unclear whether this incident will result in criminal charges or an investigation into Morant’s behavior — or whether the NBA will choose to take further action.
Ja Morant (L) appeared on an Instagram Live video on Saturday – where he was seen with a gun
Morant was in the driver’s seat of a car where he was seen brandishing a gun for the camera
In March, Morant appeared to be holding a gun in an Instagram Live video at a Denver club
Morant released a statement saying he would take time to get help
Morant’s incident in March showed him dancing topless in a strip club before raising a gun to the side of his head.
Hours after publication, it was revealed the incident was being investigated by the NBA, and The Athletic’s Shams Charania later reported that Morant had been banned for “at least two games” by the Grizzlies. while the investigation into the incident continues.
Morant then released a statement taking responsibility for his actions and explaining that he would be taking time off the game to work on his well-being.
“I take full responsibility for my actions last night,” he said. “I’m sorry to my family, my teammates, my coaches, my fans, my partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down.
“I will take time to get support and work on learning better ways to manage stress and my overall well-being.”
After Morant took that time off — including a short stint at a treatment center in Florida — he met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver in New York. There he was informed that he would be suspended for eight games – including time already served.
It’s been a season full of legal issues and controversy for the Murray State product — something he’s recently acknowledged as a distraction for the team.
After the Grizzlies were eliminated by the Lakers, Morant said, “I just have to be better at my decision making.” That is just about everything. The issues off the pitch affected us a lot as an organization. Just [need] more rigor.’
Morant has had a number of violent incidents this season – including a fight with a teenager
This alleged incident last summer took place at Morant’s mansion outside Memphis (pictured)
This fight took place after Morant allegedly threatened a security guard at a Memphis mall
Morant was sued in September for allegedly punching Tennessee teenager Josh Holloway in the face during a pickup game, but the NBA star claims he was acting in self-defense.
Police interviews obtained by The Washington Post reveal the 17-year-old told detectives from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office that the point guard punched him “12 to 13 times”, adding that the Morant’s friend had hit him “four to five times”. ‘
Holloway claimed that when he got up to leave after the fight, Morant entered his house and reappeared with a gun.
Morant allegedly had the gun visible in his trouser waistband and had his hand on the gun.
The 17-year-old complainant claimed he was playing basketball with Morant when the two got into an argument, which quickly escalated. He admits throwing a basketball at Morant and “accidentally” hitting the 6-foot-2 guard in the face.
Morant and his friend allegedly responded by punching the 17-year-old ‘with a clenched fist, knocking him to the ground’ and leaving him with a ‘big knot’ in the side of his head, according to a police report by deputies . who said they observed the boy’s injuries.
Recently, Morant filed a countersuit against Holloway saying he lied to the police and the youngster was the aggressor in the situation.
Morant was also involved in a separate incident at a Memphis mall last summer, after the New York Post reported that the security chief told police that Morant had ‘threatened’ him during a an altercation in the parking lot.
Morant has been accused of being involved in several incidents during and after NBA games
Morant’s mother reportedly had an argument with a mall shoe store employee and she called her son who arrived shortly after with a group of “up to nine people”.
According to the police report, Morant and his friends refused to leave the parking lot when confronted by the mall’s security director.
The police arrived and a “verbal confrontation” reportedly escalated before someone in Morant’s entourage shoved the security chief in the face.
“As the group left the scene… Ja Morant said, ‘Let me know what time he gets off,'” police wrote in the report.
Additionally, there was an unsavory incident after the Grizzlies’ game with the Pacers on Jan. 29, when acquaintances of Ja Morant “aggressively clashed” with members of the Indiana roving band – and pointed a red laser on them.
Morant’s friend Javonte Pack (red hat) was taken off the ground during a game in January
Athleticism said that Morant was riding with his friend Davonte Pack and another person in an SUV when a red laser was pointed at the Pacers bus.
Two people who spoke to the publication anonymously said they believed the laser was attached to a gun, while a nearby Indiana security guard claimed “it’s 100% gun”. However, it has not been confirmed if the laser was attached to a weapon.
The league has opened an investigation into the allegation but has concluded that it “does not substantiate that an individual threatened others with a weapon,” an NBA spokesperson said.
“We felt we were in grave danger,” said a person present.
