Grizzlies ‘held players-only meeting’ as Steven Adams put the words to ‘none other than Ja Morant’
With Grizzlies guard Ja Morant unraveling, the team recently had a players-only meeting focused on him, according to a new report.
Morant was suspended for two games—and was later suspended indefinitely by coach Taylor Jenkins—after he posted a video to his Instagram story of him flashing a gun at a strip club.
And there was at least one attempt to change Morant’s course recently, according to The Shams Charania of athleticswhile Steven Adams reportedly led a players-only meeting and encouraged his teammates to show “better discipline on the road.”
According to the report, the veterans’ center told his teammates “to stay away from going out when they’re on the road,” though it was clear who his words were largely aimed at.
“I was told that those in the room when Steven Adams spoke out knew exactly who he sent this to,” Charania reported. “It was none other than Ja Morant.”
Yes Morant is away from the Grizzlies indefinitely after a series of gun-related incidents
Steven Adams reportedly led a players-only rally, which largely focused on Morant
Morant was seen topless in a strip club on his Instagram just hours after the Grizzlies’ defeat in Denver last Friday when it appeared he was holding a gun near his head. Police in Glendale, Colorado – a suburb of Denver – are now investigating whether Morant violated gun laws.
He was suspended for two games and apologised, but Jenkins said he “needs to get better.”
Ahead of the team’s loss to the Clippers in their first game without the two-time All-Star, he said, “We’ve said it’s going to be these two games anyway.
“I mean, this is going to be an ongoing healing process… It’s really not a timetable.”
“We are taking this very seriously,” Jenkins added. “There is a support element for someone who needs to get better and needs some help. But then there is also accountability to the team we have to stand for.
“Obviously there’s been a lot of focus on gun violence across the country, across the league, and so for us, that’s the stance we’ve taken on how to support Yes during this growth opportunity. It’s a learning moment and hopefully we can get better from it.’
Grizzlies’ Morant was spotted during a game this week pretending to fire a shotgun
Morant released a statement saying he will take some time off to get help
While the Grizzlies are second in the Western Conference with a 38-25 record, Morant’s off-the-court involvement – as well as Brandon Clarke’s season-ending Achilles tendon injury – threaten to torpedo Memphis’ season.
Morant has been involved in four alleged gun-related incidents in recent months, with the strip club video the latest in a series of controversies.
He was charged in September for allegedly punching a Tennessee teenager in the face during a pick-up game, something the NBA star claims was in self-defense.
New details from police interviews obtained by The Washington Post revealed that the 17-year-old Shelby County Sheriff’s Office detectives told the point guard hit him “12 to 13 times,” adding that Morant’s friend hit him an additional “four to five times.” time.’
The teen claimed that when he got up to leave after the fight, Morant entered his home and reappeared with a gun.
In a baffling incident just days after the report was released, Morant sparked even more controversy — this time during an NBA game — when he threw a gun party after watching a teammate shoot a three-pointer.
The unsavory moment occurred last week when the Grizzlies took on the Rockets, with Morant watching from the bench as Desmond Bane leaked a three-pointer in front of his teammates.
Morant appeared to be holding up a gun in an Instagram Live video in the wee hours of Saturday
Morant was thrilled by the shot and celebrated by pretending to shoot a gun at Bane as he ran onto the floor in defense.
In addition, there was an unsavory incident after the Grizzlies’ game with the Pacers on January 29, when acquaintances of Ja Morant “aggressively confronted” members of Indiana’s touring party and pointed a red laser at them.
The Athletic said Morant was riding in an SUV with friend Davonte Pack and another person when a red laser was pointed at the Pacers bus.
Two people who spoke anonymously to the publication said they believed the laser was attached to a gun, while an Indiana guard nearby claimed “that’s 100 percent a gun.” However, it has not been confirmed that the laser was attached to a weapon.
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