NBA Penalties Still Possible for Morant, Regardless of No Criminal Charges, Silver States

DENVER (AP) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated on Friday that Memphis guard Ja Morant’s absence of criminal charges in connection to twice displaying a gun on social media will not deter the league from imposing additional discipline. Silver is set to announce the forthcoming penalty for Morant’s second gun incident shortly after the conclusion of the NBA Finals. In March, Morant was suspended for eight games after livestreaming himself with a gun in a suburban Denver nightclub. Another livestream in May showed Morant once again brandishing a weapon while sitting in a car with a friend.

Silver expressed his concern regarding the incidents, stating, “Waving them around, displaying them in a certain context, is not consistent with gun safety and is not the proper message that an NBA player, particularly one at Ja’s level, should be sending to the tens of millions of followers he has — and particularly when it’s an incident once again, where it’s been streamed live on social media.” Despite no charges being filed by the Colorado police for either incident, the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement empowers the league to take action if a player’s conduct is deemed “materially detrimental or materially prejudicial to the best interests” of the team or the NBA.

Silver clarified that the decision is based on the league’s values and expectations, rather than a legal standard. The announcement of the penalty will not take place during the NBA Finals, as agreed upon by the league and the National Basketball Players Association. Morant has been suspended indefinitely by the Grizzlies, and with no urgency to announce a decision while the team is off until the fall, the NBA’s ruling will come later.

Silver emphasized that the decision is not politically motivated, even in the current climate where gun control is a divisive topic. He highlighted that the issue revolves around gun safety. This marks the third NBA investigation involving Morant and firearms in 2023.

In a separate civil lawsuit, Morant and his associate Davonte Pack are accused of assault by a teenager who alleged they attacked him at Morant’s home last summer. Morant has countersued, claiming slander, battery, and assault.

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