Ja Morant suspended over strip club gun video

NBA superstar Ja Morant has been suspended after an incriminating strip club video emerged in the early hours of the morning.

Ja Morant appears to display a gun for a second time at a strip club. Pic: Getty/Instagram

Warning: This article contains images and language that may be offensive to some readers

Ja Morant, the NBA superstar who was accused of flashing a handgun at and punching a teen over the summer after a pickup game, went viral early Saturday morning (US time) when an Instagram Live video surfaced in which he appears to be displaying a gun for a second time at a strip club.

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The 23-year-old Memphis Grizzlies All-Star point guard is seen shirtless and rapping along with the music in the Instagram Live video posted at 5:19am, lifting what appears to be a gun near the side of his head, the NY Post reports.

Morant was suspended and will be “away from the team” for at least their next two games, the Grizzlies announced.

The NBA said it is probing the incident.

4kt Ja in the Skrip club wit the blicky. pic.twitter.com/mFEOvZ5MVY

— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) March 4, 2023

“We are aware of a social media post involving Ja Morant and are investigating,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.

The clip, shot hours after Morant and his Grizzlies lost 113-97 to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, is the latest in a string of apparent gun-related controversies involving the phenom.

Statement from Ja Morant:

“I take full responsibility for my actions last night. I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down….”

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 4, 2023

Morant was sued in September for clocking a 17-year-old in the face during the pickup game at his Tennessee mansion, but the NBA star has insisted it was in self-defence.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the incident could have been much worse.

The teen told detectives Morant hit him more than a dozen times and then went into his home after the scuffle — only to return with one hand holding a gun visible from the waistband of his pants, the newspaper reported.

Ja Morant is in hot water for showing off a gun on Instagram. Pic: Getty/Instagram

Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to pursue criminal charges.

On Thursday, Morant drew even more criticism for doing a finger-gun celebration during a victory over the Houston Rockets.

Morant filed a police report of his own on the incident, accusing the boy, a top Memphis-area basketball prospect, of threatening to return to the home and “light this place up like fireworks.”

Ja Morant’s IG and Twitter have been deactivated….wonder what happened pic.twitter.com/xRHP3qU2fi

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 4, 2023

The story also reported an incident in which a head of security at a mall said Morant “threatened” him and that a member of Morant’s crew pushed him.

Morant’s agent, Jim Tanner, called the Washington Post report “irresponsible and defamatory.”

Morant was also investigated by the NBA earlier this season after members of the Pacers accused associates of Morant of pointing a red laser at them following a confrontation.

The NBA said in a statement its investigation into the alleged incident with the Pacers “could not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon.”

This article first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission

Originally published as Ja Morant suspended over strip club gun video