{"id":133128,"date":"2025-04-07T17:20:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T21:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=133128"},"modified":"2025-04-07T17:20:44","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T21:20:44","slug":"is-ja-morant-being-targeted-by-the-nba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/04\/07\/is-ja-morant-being-targeted-by-the-nba\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Ja Morant Being ‘Targeted’ By The NBA?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ja Morant<\/a> has been in the public eye for all the wrong reasons recently, just as his team faces a critical stretch. The Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> find themselves in a tight race for the playoffs, battling for a spot in the play-in tournament.
\nWith the risk of dropping to the eighth seed, they face the prospect of being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> juggernaut in the first round. As the Grizzlies fight to secure a spot, Morant\u2019s off-court controversies have overshadowed his on-court brilliance, creating distractions at the worst possible time.
\nThis mounting pressure raises the question: Is Ja Morant being unfairly targeted by the NBA, or is his history of infractions catching up with him?<\/p>\n

Is Ja Morant Being ‘Targeted’ By The NBA?<\/h2>\n

Early Signs of Trouble<\/h3>\n

Ja Morant’s off-court issues first appeared during the 2021-22 NBA season, when he threatened<\/a> someone on Twitter. He responded to a troll with a now-deleted tweet: “It’s free to see how hollow feels,” alarming many observers. Fans interpreted the tweet as a threat, suggesting Morant might physically harm the person behind the online comments.<\/p>\n

Although he deleted the message quickly, the moment marked the beginning of troubling behavior that would escalate later. This incident tarnished his growing reputation just as he emerged as one of the league\u2019s most exciting young stars.<\/p>\n

The Mall Incident and Pickup Game Altercation<\/h3>\n

Soon after the season ended, Morant found himself embroiled in another controversy at a Memphis mall. Reports<\/a> stated that Morant\u2019s mother got into an altercation with a mall employee and called her son for support.
\nMorant allegedly arrived with up to nine people, creating an intimidating scene in the parking lot. The mall\u2019s head of security claimed Morant threatened him during this confrontation and that someone shoved him.<\/p>\n

Although no charges followed, the story added to a mounting narrative about Morant\u2019s off-court aggression. Four days later, controversy<\/a> struck again when Morant hosted a pickup basketball game at his house. A 17-year-old participant accused Morant of punching him during an argument that escalated violently.
\nThe teenager claimed he accidentally hit Morant\u2019s face with the basketball before being attacked and repeatedly punched. Morant admitted striking the teen but said he acted in self-defense after being approached aggressively. The district attorney declined to press charges, but the teen later filed a lawsuit against Morant.<\/p>\n

The Gun Incidents and NBA Suspensions<\/h3>\n

In March 2023, Morant livestreamed himself holding a handgun in a Denver nightclub after a Grizzlies game. The video spread rapidly, causing enormous public backlash and forcing both the NBA and the Grizzlies to respond.
\nNBA Commissioner Adam Silver personally investigated the situation and announced<\/a> Morant\u2019s suspension for eight games.<\/p>\n

Morant apologized and pledged to undergo counseling, promising fans and officials he would turn his behavior around. Yet, only months later, in May 2023, another video surfaced showing Morant holding a gun in a car. This second violation left the NBA little choice, leading<\/a> to a severe 25-game suspension without pay.<\/p>\n

He would enter counseling<\/a> for two weeks while serving his eight game suspension. He even had a sit-down interview with then ESPN NBA commentator Jalen Rose.<\/p>\n