Lakers News: Grizzlies' Ja Morant Could Be In Midst Of Lengthy Suspension Against LA

Grizzlies All-Star could be out more than his scheduled two-game suspension.

Memphis Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant has been front-and-center of the NBA's news blotter this weekend, and not for good reasons. 

Morant will at least be suspended for the Grizzlies' next two games after he displayed what appeared to be a gun while at a nightclub early Saturday morning on his Instagram live video. 

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

— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) March 4, 2023

Morant will miss two games against the Los Angeles teams, the Clippers on Sunday and the Lakers on Tuesday, where Pau Gasol will have his jersey retirement at the Crypto.com Arena. 

It might continue for the 2019 second-overall pick as ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks shared league guidelines regarding gun possession.

We will see how the Ja Morant situation develops.

There are likely legal consequences because he is an out of state resident viewed in possession of a gun.

Here’s the CBA language for NBA discipline pic.twitter.com/S0cBpiGthC

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 4, 2023

Dillion Thomas of CBS Colorado detailed TSA rules, screenings, and the law regarding firearms in Colorado. 

"TSA requires all firearms to be declared upon check-in, and they must be unloaded and secured in a locked case under the aircraft in checked luggage," Thomas wrote. "If the TSA rules are followed, a passenger on a chartered flight could transport a firearm on the airplane."

"In Colorado, it is illegal to possess a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance."

Orlando Silva of Fadeaway World pointed to the fact that one Redditor said the gun Morant showed in Denver, so there is a chance he carried the gun on the team plane. If true, those are clear violations, and Morant could be serving a 50-game suspension under NBA policy. 

A long-term suspension will apply if the league discovers he brought the gun he showed on Instagram to any team's facility or any NBA-owned building. 

Ja released a statement on Saturday regarding his suspension. 

Grizzlies’ Ja Morant releases statement and says he is going to take time away to receive help: pic.twitter.com/5TxS7Qh3kJ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 4, 2023

Nike, the mega-shoe company representing Morant, released a statement after it was announced he'd be suspended. NBA insider Shams Charania reiterated Nike's announcement via Twitter. 

Nike statement on Ja Morant: “We appreciate Ja’s accountability and that he is taking the time to get the help he needs. We support his prioritization of his well-being.”

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 5, 2023

Things could get worse for the 23-year-old, as he is being accused of punching a 17-year-old during a pickup basketball game last summer, according to The Washington Post. 

Morant says it was in self-defense, as he punched the kid 12 to 13 times. 

A lot of scrutiny has come down Ja's way, and what is upsetting is that it is all self-inflicted. You never want to see a star player like Ja get in trouble, and hopefully, his suspension is short-lived. 

Selfishly, Morant's absence will be a huge break for the injury-depleted Lakers, who next face off against the Grizzlies Tuesday.

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