What is Ja Morant being accused of? Understanding the allegations for 2 incidents of assault
Outside of being a walking highlight reel on the basketball court, Ja Morant is dealing with legal trouble. Reports have emerged that the Memphis Grizzlies star is facing assault charges.
Whoa: The Washington Post is reporting that Ja Morant is being accused in police reports of beating up a 17-year-old boy and pointing a gun at him.
(via @mollyhc) https://t.co/palAH5Nwg4
According to a report from the Washington Post, Morant was allegedly involved in two different incidents of assault. One was with a teenager and the other with a mall security guard in Memphis over the summer.
The altercation with the 17-year-old happened at his home in Memphis during a game of pickup basketball. After the fight, Morant went into his home and came back out with a firearm.
During his interview with the police, the Memphis Grizzlies All-Star claimed that he acted in self-defense.
"Morant later told police during an interview that he had acted in self-defense," the Post reported. "He said that the boy had threatened to 'come back and light this place up like fireworks,' and later filed a police complaint alleging the boy had threatened his family."
Was Ja Morant charged with anything involving these incidents?
Despite the accusations, Ja Morant has not been charged. The Shelby County Police District Attorney's opted not to press charges against the NBA star due to a lack of evidence.
This is not the first time Morant has been caught up in off-the-court drama. Earlier this year, he was connected to an incident involving a scuffle with workers of the Indiana Pacers. After the game, a car drove past a team bus and shot a laser pointer at it. It remains unclear if the laser pointer was connected to anything and how involved Morant was.
Despite all this, Morant is still in the midst of a career year. The 23-year-old is averaging 27.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.2 assists and the Grizzlies are a top team in the Western Conference.
At this point in the year, this is the last thing the Memphis Grizzlies want to be dealing with. Morant is their star player, and they need him focused on leading the team to what they hope is a deep playoff run. Instead, these off-the-court incidents could be a distraction and leave a dark cloud over him and the rest of the team.