Memphis Grizzlies AGREE with Ja Morant’s 25-game NBA ban for his second pistol-waving incident as GM Zach Kleiman says: ‘There’s many really serious steps he needs to take’
- Ja Morant’s 25-game NBA ban has been scrutinized after his pistol exploits
- His Memphis Grizzlies team believe Morant’s suspension to be ‘appropriate’
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Memphis Grizzlies believe Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension for a second pistol-waving incident on social media was correct and GM Zach Kleiman says the scandalized star needs to take ‘really serious steps’ to get back on court.
The 23-year-old Morant was hit with the ban last week after two incidents in as many months of him appearing to brandish a gun on camera. First, he filmed himself holding a pistol in a Denver strip club and later was filmed holding a weapon in a car with a friend.
The National Basketball Players’ Association still slammed the NBA ruling and branded it ‘excessive and inappropriate’ – but the Grizzlies general manager Kleiman has publicly backed it.
‘I think the discipline from the NBA was appropriate,’ Kleiman said to reporters at the NBA Draft in New York on Thursday.
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‘I think the thing to focus on at this point is what’s Ja going to commit to moving forward? What are the steps that he’s prepared to take for the NBA to grant the ability to rejoin the team after serving the suspension?’
Ja Morant has been banned for 25 games for his second pistol-waving video on social media
Earlier this year, Morant held a pistol up on Instagram while visiting a Denver strip club
Explaining its decision last week, the NBA said Morant ‘will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior’.
That part specifically was questioned by the NBPA but Kleiman has no issue.
‘I think there’s a lot of healthy dialogue there,’ he said. ‘I think everyone did acknowledge early on that this was going to be ongoing and Ja wasn’t just going to become the best version of himself overnight.
‘I think there’s many really serious steps that he needs to continue to take.’
For his part, Morant said in a statement when his suspension was announced: ‘I’ve had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I’ve caused. I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis.
‘To Adam Silver, Zach Kleiman and Robert Pera – who gave me the opportunity to be a professional athlete and have supported me – I’m sorry for the harm I’ve done.
‘To the kids who look up to me, I’m sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I’m going to be better. To all of my sponsors, I’m going to be a better representation of our brands.
‘And to all of my fans, I’m going to make it up to you, I promise.
The 25-game ban for Morant was slated by The National Basketball Players’ Association
But Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman says the suspension is ‘appropriate’
‘I’m spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision making.
‘I’m also going to be training so that I’m ready to go when I can be back on the court. I know my teammates are going to hold it down and I’m so sorry I won’t be out there with you at the beginning of the season.
‘I hope you’ll give me the chance to prove to you over time I’m a better man than what I’ve been showing you.’
