The NBA has issued warnings to Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and Buddy Hield of the Golden State Warriors for making gun gestures at the conclusion of Tuesday night’s game, as reported by ESPN. The league also cautioned both teams, clarifying that while the gestures were not deemed violent enough to warrant suspensions, they are inappropriate for the basketball court.
On Wednesday, ESPN revealed that the NBA is investigating a gesture made by Morant during the game against the Warriors.
Morant was observed mimicking the action of aiming a firearm at the Warriors’ bench after a timeout was called, following a couple of free throws by Jimmy Butler.
Draymond Green responded quickly to Morant’s actions, which were captured in a video by the Warriors’ NBC Sports broadcast partner.
The NBA’s scrutiny is understandable, particularly given Morant’s previous suspensions related to gun incidents on social media, which resulted in him missing 33 games. This context makes the league’s attention to the recent gesture all the more significant.
The Grizzlies have been struggling recently, slipping to sixth place in the Western Conference after losing seven of their last eight games. The potential loss of Morant, who averages 22.7 points per game, to another suspension could exacerbate an already challenging situation for the team.
