Gilbert Arenas equates Ja Morant's situation to himself, shedding light on his 50-game suspension & backlash received from media
Ja Morant is in danger of being suspended for 50 games as the NBA is conducting an investigation into whether or not the Memphis Grizzlies' star point guard brought a firearm onto the team plane. Morant showed off a firearm on Instagram Live while in a Denver nightclub Saturday morning following the Grizzlies' Friday night loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Gilbert Arenas, who was suspended for 50 games in 2010 for violating the same policy while with the Washington Wizards, weighed in on Morant's situation:
"I've never gotten suspended for guns in the locker room. I guess they're using 50 games as the benchmark, because that was what I got. The real story is, I got bullied into 50 games. What I got suspended for was detrimental to the team because when the media was attacking me, like Ja, I was reacting emotionally.
"I was suspended indefinitely until furthermore – 'until we evalutate the situation' – but all it was was to get me out of the media, because the story was too big for one or two games ... (Commissioner David Stern) said, 'You're going to take 50 games or I'm going to come after your contract.' At the time, I had just lost my Adidas deal."
The league is investigating how Ja Morant was in possession of a firearm on a team road trip. The CBA stipulates that if a player brings a firearm to the team premises, they will automatically face a 50-game suspension, putting Morant's postseason in jeopardy.
Watch Gilbert Arenas' comments on Ja Morant below:
In light of Ja Morant’s situation here’s the real reason why the NBA suspended Gilbert Arenas for 50 games @GilsArena
Full episode: youtu.be/RN0OrflZWkY https://t.co/Cws3WHLZxM
Ja Morant is the subject of several investigations
Ja Morant is one of the NBA's best young players. However, many have begun to question his character and decision-making. The Memphis Grizzlies star is facing investigations by both the NBA and Denver law enforcement, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
Morant, who threatened a fan on Twitter following the Grizzlies' exit from the 2021-2022 postseason, was accused of threatening staff at a local mall during the offseason. He was also accused of punching a teenager and retrieving a firearm during a pickup basketball game.
Earlier this season, Morant saw members of his entourage receive bans from attending NBA games. The ban followed an incident in which Indiana Pacers staffers accused them of pointing a laser, which they believed was attached to a firearm, at the Pacers' team bus. The two-time All-Star was reportedly in an SUV with the accused parties at the time of the incident.
Following the latest incident in Morant's off-court behavior, he is away from the team for at least two games. More importantly, he is under investigation by the NBA and Denver law enforcement.