Ja Morant timeline of trouble: Gun investigation latest off-court incident for Grizzlies star
Yes Morant was in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as the 2022-23 NBA season drew to a close.
The all-star security guard is usually in the news for his electrifying highlights, but lately Morant has had a spate of extra-judicial incidents. The 23-year-old is currently away from the Grizzlies as the NBA investigates the details behind a live Instagram video of the security guard wielding a gun at a nightclub near Denver over the weekend.
The latest situation comes on top of a string of other alleged incidents, including a situation with Pacers employees, a physical altercation with a teenager and a threat to a security guard last summer.
This is how Morant’s legal situations have evolved to this point.
Ja Morant legal troubles timeline: everything we know about the Grizzlies star’s situation
February 5, 2023: The Pacers Incident Report
On February 5, The Athletic’s Bob Kravitz and Sam Amick reported an incident involving Morant’s associates and members of the Pacers’ touring company, which led to an NBA investigation.
The incident happened on January 29 while the Pacers were visiting the Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum in Memphis.
“Following a Jan. 29 game between the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis, acquaintances of Grizzlies star Ja Morant aggressively confronted members of the Pacers tour group near the team bus in the loading area of the FedExForum, and later someone in a slow-moving SUV — in which Morant was driving – aimed a red laser at them,” reads The Athletic’s report.
Pacers employees spoke anonymously to The Athletic and said they believed the red laser was attached to a gun. According to their account of the situation, there was a Pacers guard who said, “This is 100 percent a gun.”
No police report was filed and NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed the league’s investigation could not confirm anyone was threatened with a gun.
For more details on this particular situation – such as Morant’s explanation and the Grizzlies’ explanation – click here Here.
March 1, 2023: The Washington Post reports two separate incidents from the summer
On March 1, The Washington Post ran a story about two separate allegations against Morant from last summer.
Lawsuit filed for assault at pickup basketball game
First there were details of a physical altercation at a pickup basketball game that escalated at Morant’s home. The report suggested that tempers flared, leading to Morant attacking a 17-year-old boy and threatening him with a gun stuck in his trousers.
Morant claimed he was acting in self-defense and told police the teenager left shouting, “I’ll come back and light up this place like fireworks.”
Morant’s agent, Jim Tanner, described the allegations as “baseless rumors and gossip spread by people motivated to tear down Ja and tarnish his reputation for their own financial gain.”
An NBA spokesman declined to confirm whether the league had previously investigated the incident or planned to launch an investigation in the near future. For more details on the situation, click Here.
Finish line, mall security incident
Second, The Washington Post described a situation involving Morant’s mother at a finish line at a local mall.
Morant’s mother reportedly got into an “argument” with a store worker before calling her son, who showed up at the scene with nine friends. Morant’s friends reportedly harassed the security guard and threatened his safety when he returned from work. A complaint was made to the police, but no arrests were made.
March 4, 2023: Morant appears to be wielding a gun after losing to Nuggets on Instagram Live
Days after the Washington Post report, Morant put himself in another difficult situation.
The Grizzlies lost to the Nuggets in Denver on Friday, March 3rd. In the early hours of Saturday morning, March 4, Morant went live on Instagram from a nightclub.
The Star Guard seemed to do it broadcast himself at gunpoint to his nine million Instagram followerswhich led to an NBA investigation.
For more details on this situation, click Here.
March 4, 2023: Morant announces he is retiring from the Grizzlies for help; The NBA is launching an investigation
Later that evening, Morant released a statement saying he would take time from the Grizzlies to seek help.
The Grizzlies followed this announcement with his own statement that Morant will be away from the team for “at least the next two games”. Then, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported The league has already launched an investigation into the incident and depending on the outcome, Morant could face more serious consequences.
As noted by ESPN’s Bobby MarksNBA players are prohibited from owning firearms when “travelling on NBA-related business.”
March 6, 2023: Colorado police are also investigating Morant’s actions
On March 6th ESPN’s Michele Steele reported that the Glendale, Co. Police Department confirmed that “there is an investigation” into Morant’s actions at the nightclub. She added that Colorado is an open carry state, but it is illegal to possess a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
March 8, 2023: Colorado police closed Morant’s case with no charges
Two days later, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Glendale, Co. Police had dropped their investigation into Morant with no charges or crimes.
“There was insufficient evidence available to charge anyone with a crime,” the report said.
March 8, 2023: Grizzlies announce Morant will be staying away from the team
The Grizzlies announced that Morant would be away from the team for “at least the next four games.” That means he’s out until at least March 15, missing matchups against the Warriors, Mavericks (twice), and Heat.
Further updates will be made as they become available.