Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Silver on latest Morant gun video: 'I was shocked'

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 16 May 2023 18:31

NBA commissioner Adam Silver described himself as "shocked" when he saw a social media video of Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant holding a firearm less than two months after they met to discuss a similar incident that resulted in an eight-game suspension.

The Grizzlies on Sunday suspended Morant from all offseason team activities, pending the league office's review of the video that surfaced over the weekend.

"Honestly, I was shocked when I saw this weekend that video," Silver told ESPN's Malika Andrews from the NBA's draft lottery Tuesday in Chicago. "Now, we're in the process of investigating it, and we'll figure out exactly what happened to the best we can. The video is a bit grainy and all that, but I'm assuming the worst."

Morant was previously suspended in March after he could be seen during an Instagram Live session holding up a handgun while intoxicated at a Denver area club when the Grizzlies were in town to play the Nuggets.

Morant enrolled in a Florida counseling facility -- to learn how to manage stress better, he later said -- before traveling to New York City to meet with Silver at the commissioner's office 11 days after the incident.

Silver elected to suspend Morant for eight games without pay due to conduct detrimental to the league -- a punishment that included six games the point guard had already missed -- and issued a stern statement calling Morant's conduct "irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous."

"We talked directly about the consequences first," Silver told ESPN on Tuesday. "Before we got to a subsequent potential to have done something wrong, we were very focused on the misconduct that was in front of us at the time. Frankly, most of our conversation was about how incredibly serious the first incident was of waving a firearm on social media.

"Again, the consequences there -- an eight-game suspension -- was pretty serious and something that he, at least to me, seemed to take incredibly seriously in that time. And we spoke for a long time about not just the consequences that could have on his career, but the safety issues around it -- (Morant) could've injured, maimed, killed himself, someone else with an act like that -- and also the acknowledgment that he's a star. He has an incredibly huge following, and (we discussed) my concern -- and I thought he shared with me -- that millions, if not tens of millions, of kids globally would have seen him do something that was celebrating in a way that act of using a firearm in that fashion.

"So I at least was left with the sense that he was taking this incredibly serious."

The Instagram Live video that emerged over the weekend came from the account of Morant's best friend, Davonte Pack, who has been involved in several of Morant's off-court incidents that merited investigation from the league office. Pack was banned from attending Grizzlies home games for a year following an investigation into a postgame confrontation with the Indiana Pacers' traveling party on Jan. 29, when a red laser was alleged to have been pointed out of an SUV in which Morant was traveling.

"NBA Security and league investigators conducted an investigation interviewing numerous eyewitnesses and reviewing video surveillance following allegations made by the Indiana Pacers organization regarding a postgame incident on Jan. 29," NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement following that incident. "While we substantiated that a postgame situation arose that was confrontational, based on interviews and other evidence gathered, we could not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon."

Read 74 times

Soccer

Madueke backs Lavia to take Chelsea to next level

Madueke backs Lavia to take Chelsea to next level

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNoni Madueke believes Chelsea are starting to "take shape" under Ma...

Ange: City game my worst experience as manager

Ange: City game my worst experience as manager

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said he suffered cold sw...

What the heck is going on with the Portland Thorns? Their wild season so far explained

What the heck is going on with the Portland Thorns? Their wild season so far explained

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Portland Thorns are two victories away from tying the NWSL reco...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Pacers spurred by fiery Carlisle, roll into Game 7

Pacers spurred by fiery Carlisle, roll into Game 7

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsINDIANAPOLIS -- When the Indiana Pacers fell behind 2-0 in their se...

Sources: Porzingis likely out for start of East finals

Sources: Porzingis likely out for start of East finals

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBoston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is expected to remain side...

Baseball

Twins frustrated by plate ump, rare rule violation

Twins frustrated by plate ump, rare rule violation

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- Following a one-run loss, Minnesota manager Rocco Bald...

'This fan base is going to fall in love with him': How Luis Arráez is following in Tony Gwynn's footsteps

'This fan base is going to fall in love with him': How Luis Arráez is following in Tony Gwynn's footsteps

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsComparisons to Tony Gwynn began to follow Luis Arráez when he first...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated