For the second time since March, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended from the team following a social media incident involving a gun swing.
On Sunday, May 14, the Grizzlies announced they were suspending Morant “from all team activity pending league review” after live Instagram video surfaced showing Morant briefly pointing a gun next to a friend seen stopping a car.
The friend in the video appears to be Vonste Pack, who is linked to the Instagram account where the live video was posted.
Who is Vonste Pack? Here’s what we know about Morant’s longtime boyfriend, who has been in the news several times over the past few months.
MORE: Ja Morant faces lengthy ban after showing gun in Instagram video
Who is Vonste Pack?
Vomte Pack is a lifelong friend of Ja Morant.
Pack, like Morant, is from Sumter, SC and graduated from high school in 2017. In their younger years, the two played AAU basketball together for the South Carolina Hornets alongside current Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.
In the now famous photo of their AAU team, Pack can be seen to the left of Morant and Williamson, appearing to be wearing the number 7 jersey.
Never forget that one summer Zion Williamson and Ja Morant played on the same AAU team, the South Carolina Hornets. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/1OwgsSDCih
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) March 23, 2019
Pack is also the founder of the brand “MBNO”, which stands for “My Brothers, No Others”. Morant has been spotted wearing the branding at games.
MORE: Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon react to Ja Morant’s Instagram gun video
Why is Dazute Pack banned from Grizzlies games?
Vomute Pack was banned from the Grizzlies’ home games at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee on January 29 for his role in an incident during a game.
When the Pacers were visiting the Grizzlies, an incident ensued when Morant’s father, Tee and Pack, both seated on the sidelines, verbally exchanged views with several Pacers players.
According to Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Pack was escorted off the floor.
Ja Morant and Andrew Nembhard got involved and eventually James Johnson got involved too. Looks like Ja Morant’s friend Vomte Pack was escorted off the ground. pic.twitter.com/etvu1yIXHZ
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) January 30, 2023
According to a report by The Athletic, the incident escalated after the game when “acquaintances of…” [Morant] Aggressively confronted members of the Pacers tour group near the team bus in the FedExForum loading area.”
The report adds that “later someone in a slow-moving SUV — in which Morant was driving — pointed a red laser at them.”
In hindsight, NBA spokesman Mike Bass said that “certain individuals involved in the post-game situation and a related matter during that night’s game were subsequently banned from attending games at the arena.” Pack’s name became not expressly mentioned.
Morant later tweeted that the NBA “banned my brother from home games for a year,” with Pack later quoting Morant’s tweet, adding that everything in the report was “false information.”
ALL FALSE INFORMATION????????♂️ Crazy how you believe this side of the story when the cameras are showing nothing, the article says https://t.co/2b17vN3M5n
— DTAP (@xBestManWinx) February 5, 2023
Vomte Pack basketball career
While Morant attended Crestwood High School in Sumter, SC, Pack attended Lakewood High School. As seniors, Pack’s Lakewood team edged out Morant and Crestwood in both encounters, according to MaxPreps.
Pack then played at Cowley Community College in Arkansas City, Kan. before attending NAIA Friends University in Witchita, Kan. changed.
In three seasons at Friends University, Pack averaged 15.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game and earned an honorable mention for the NAIA All-America team after the 2020-21 season.
Pack hits 1,000 career points but the Falcons lag behind against Ottawa
– https://t.co/6xPcNJLEdM pic.twitter.com/UN3jdlKb9f
— ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? (@FriendsFalcons) December 9, 2021
Pack’s college basketball career ended after his 2021–22 senior season.