The NBA is investigating an incident involving Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. On Saturday, images began circulating on social media which appeared to show Morant holding a gun while live on Instagram. This comes days after reports emerged that Morant had been accused of threatening and violent behavior last summer, including allegedly hitting a teenager and flashing a gun at him.
NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said the league is investigating an image appearing to be Morant’s Instagram—with more than 1,600 viewers—showing him holding a gun. This follows reports from earlier this week that police records indicated Morant had allegedly punched a 17-year-old during an altercation at his home in Memphis last summer. The teenager said he was left with a “large knot” on his head, while Morant told police he acted in self-defense. His agent Jim Tanner denied the allegations and said they were made public to “tarnish his reputation for their own financial gain.”
Morant was also allegedly involved in a confrontation with police at a Memphis mall in which Morant is accused of threatening one officer, though no report was filed. The incident follows another involving some of Morant’s acquaintances and members of the Indiana Pacers after a game on January 29, with someone in an SUV Morant was riding in later fixing a red laser on some Pacers players. An NBA investigation could not conclude whether a weapon was involved.
Morant signed a five-year extension with the Grizzlies last July and is set to earn $193 million. He is a two-time NBA all-star after being drafted by the Grizzlies in 2019 following a two-year stint at Murray State. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020 and was later named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2022.