Ja Morant suspended by NBA for 8 games

• Ja Morant has been given an eight-game ban by the NBA.
• It was uncertain that Morant was the owner of the gun.
• Morant has apologized for his behavior.

For allegedly showing a pistol on social media while at a bar, Ja Morant was given an eight-game ban.

In a statement posted to its website on Wednesday, the NBA revealed its choice.

“The discipline is in response to Morant’s live streaming of a video on March 4 in which he is holding a firearm in an intoxicated state while visiting a Denver area nightclub,” the league said of the Memphis Grizzlies point guard

The 23-year-old Morant will be eligible to participate in Monday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.

“Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in the release. “It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him.”

Continued Silver: “He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behavior. Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court.”

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After looking into the incident, the league office was unable to establish whether Morant was the owner of the gun, whether he brought it into the arena, or whether he had it in his possession before or after the video surfaced.

“The investigation also did not find that Morant possessed the gun while traveling with the team or in any NBA facility, and the Colorado authorities did not find sufficient cause to charge Morant with a crime,” said the NBA.

He was first given a two-game suspension right away after the incident, and in a statement made available to the sports media, he later expressed regret for his actions.

“I take full responsibility for my actions last night,” Morant said in the statement. “I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down.”

“I’m going to take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being,” he added.

Morant reportedly entered a counseling program in Florida and there “remains no timetable for his return to active play,” Wojnarowski posted on Twitter Monday.

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