The 23-year-old Memphis Grizzlies player is reportedly going to be back on the floor soon after leaving the counseling program in a surprising turn of events.
- Mar 16, 2023
AceShowbiz - Ja Morant is finally speaking out. The Memphis Grizzlies has made it clear in his first interview since leaving the counseling program that the gun he flashed in a Colorado strip club was not his.
The 23-year-old guard sat down for a one-on-one interview with ESPN's Jalen Rose on Wednesday, March 15. He was asked straight-up who owned the gun he showed off on Instagram Live on March 4. "The gun wasn't mine," the athlete declared.
Morant continued, "It's not who I am. I don't condone any type of violence, but I take full responsibility for my actions." He went on adding, "I made a bad mistake and I can see the image I painted over myself with my recent mistakes."
"In the future, I will show everybody who Ja really is, what I'm about and change this narrative," Morant promised. He also said that he realized he needed help when he made the video and his daughter inspired him to open up about his issues with professionals.
The All-Star also discussed his meeting with NBA's commissioner Adam Silver and he said it was a productive conversation, as the commish voiced support for him. He then shared that he still takes pride in being a role model, saying, "I realize I have a lot of kids who look up to me. Even probably some adults, a lot of fans. I realize my past mistakes isn't being a good role model. So, just gotta be better in that area and be more responsible, be smarter and make better decisions."
The interview came shortly after Morant left the counseling program in Florida. "Grizzlies star Ja Morant met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver in New York today," reporter Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted on Wednesday. "Morant has left a counseling program in Florida and moves closer to ramping up for return to season now."
Also on Wednesday, the NBA announced that Morant was suspended eight games without pay. "The NBA announced today that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended eight games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league," the announcement read. "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. Morant will be eligible to return for the team's game against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, March 20."
Prior to the suspension announcement, the NBA launched an investigation and the Glendale (Co.) Police declared that "there was not enough available evidence to charge anyone with a crime."
