By now, the spiraling behavior of NBA superstar Ja Morant that included multiple gun incidents and alleged physical altercations, one of which resulted in a civil lawsuit that remains ongoing, has been well chronicled by various reporters.
We know that in early March, Morant was filmed on Instagram Live while appearing to hold a handgun in a Denver-area nightclub, which landed him an eight-game suspension. We know that less than three months later, Morant was again caught on film while appearing to hold a handgun while riding in a car with friends, which landed him a 25-game suspension he’s set to serve at the start of this upcoming season, which will cost him nearly $8 million in lost salary.
What we didn’t necessarily know is the extent to which the Memphis Grizzlies were aware of, and troubled by, Morant’s behavior, and how potentially lax they were in addressing it before it was too late.
This is among the new information revealed in a comprehensive report published by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes and Tim MacMahon on Wednesday, which suggests the Grizzlies initially noticed a change, for the worse, in Morant’s behavior almost as soon as he entered the NBA, but didn’t do anything about it.
From ESPN:
But some warning signs emerged early in his pandemic-shortened rookie season. Team sources said there were concerns about how frequently Morant, underage and often accompanied by his father, would go out drinking, and at some of Memphis’ seedier establishments and strip clubs, including on nights before games.
Throughout that 2021-22 season, during which Morant was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player, a pattern emerged whenever the Grizzlies traveled. After landing, a Sprinter Van would often be waiting at the team hotel to shuttle Morant out for the evening with friends and family, whom he had flown into that city on a private jet, according to team sources. Morant would cover their lodging and foot the bill at establishments they visited. In some instances, team sources said, it wasn’t unusual for Morant to appear hungover, or to…
..
