NASHVILLE, TN — The NBA finally announced its decision on Memphis Grizzlies’ guard Ja Morant last Friday.
Commissioner Adam Silver said Morant would be suspended 25 games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league.
The suspension went into effect immediately, and comes on top of the indefinite suspension that the team had placed him on since May, when a second video of Morant flashing a gun was widely released.
The first incident had gotten Morant only an eight game suspension, something several NBA writers and commentators felt was too light.
A similar criticism has been leveled in some circles, though Silver had already established a precedent in the Miles Bridges incident.
After pleading guilty to felony domestic assault, Bridges got 30 games. It would be difficult to give Morant more games for something that wasn’t a crime than for a player convicted of one.
But Silver expressed deep disappointment with Morant’s conduct, and emphasized the need for counseling and mental health attention being paid to Morant during his time away from the league.
The suspension will also cost Morant any chance at being named to any All-NBA teams or winning any awards as players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for either those teams or any league wide honors.
As he had before, Morant issued a statement expressing remorse and regret for his actions, holding himself accountable and promising no more problems.
A host of skeptics will be closely watching his actions in the days ahead, while the Grizzlies must also decide how to proceed, both in the 25 games he will miss and during the rest of the season.
