Memphis Grizzlies are bracing for an ‘extended absence’ for Ja Morant as Colorado police probe him

With the NBA and Colorado police investigating how Ja Morant got a gun into a Denver-area strip club, the Grizzlies guard could be set for an ‘extended absence,’ according to a new report.

Morant was seen flashing a gun at a strip club after a loss last week at the Nuggets, and was suspended for two games before coach Taylor Jenkins said there was no timetable on his return.

And according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, it could be a while before Morant returns to the court.

‘From the sense that I gathered, the expectation within the team is that this could be an extended absence,’ he said Tuesday on FanDuel TV.

‘And more stringent penalties could come from the league, could come from the police.’

Morant appeared to hold up a gun in an Instagram Live video in the early hours of Saturday

The Grizzlies have struggled without Morant on the court, losing their last three games

Both the league and Colorado police are investigating how the gun got to the Denver area.

Players are not allowed to carry firearms while on team property or traveling on team business.

Meanwhile, police in Glendale, Colorado – a suburb of Denver – are investigating to see if Morant broke any gun laws.

Charania noted that Morant has been ‘accepting responsibility and receiving help,’ but his team is struggling without him in the meantime.

Memphis has lost the last three games without their superstar guard, and has fallen to third place in the West, with only 2.5 games separating it from the Kevin Durant-led Suns.

Additionally, the Grizzlies have a tough slate of games coming up, with the Warriors and Mavericks coming to town followed by trips to Dallas, Miami and San Antonio. 

Morant, who has been in the news recently for other off-the-court incidents, issued an apology for his actions on Saturday.

Morant released a statement saying he will be taking some time away to receive help 

The guard is away from the Grizzlies indefinitely after flashing a gun last weekend

‘I take full responsibility for my actions last night,’ he said. ‘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 was sued in September for allegedly punching a Tennessee teenager in the face during a pickup game, something the NBA star claims was in self defense.

Morant was also involved in a separate incident at a Memphis mall last summer, after the Washington Post reported that the head of security told police that Morant ‘threatened’ him during an altercation in the parking lot.