The team said in a brief statement that Memphis Grizzlies quarterback Ja Morant was suspended after he was shown what looked like a pistol in an Instagram Live video Sunday.
“We are aware of the social media video featuring Ja Morant,” the team wrote. “He has been suspended from all team activities until the league review. We have no further comment at this time.”
The video shows the NBA star and another person listening to the new NBA YoungBoy album in the car. For a brief moment, Morant appears to be holding something very similar to a firearm, according to TMZ.
The suspension comes two months after Morant, 23, received an eight-game suspension for being seen holding a gun at a Denver nightclub in March.
Morant received an eight-game suspension in the Denver affair; no charges were brought in this case, and Morant said the gun did not belong to him. At the time, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described Morant’s behavior as “irresponsible, reckless, and potentially very dangerous.” “This has serious ramifications, given her enormous following and influence, especially among young fans who respect her,” Silver said in March.
Morant sounded regretful at the time.
“The gun wasn’t mine,” he said. “This is not me. I do not condone any form of violence, but I take full responsibility for my actions. I made a bad mistake. I can see the image I’ve drawn on myself with my recent mistakes. In the future, I’m going to show everyone who Ja really is, what I’m all about, and change that narrative.”
Morant—who was accused earlier this year of punching and shooting him after a basketball game last year by a teenager—did not publicly comment on the latest video and the suspension.