The league announced the suspension hours after Morant met with commissioner Adam Silver and other league executives in New York to discuss the recent behavior of the two-time All-Star.
Morant can return to play on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks. He will miss upcoming games Wednesday in Miami, Friday in San Antonio and Saturday at home against Golden State.
The league also announced the findings of an investigation into the March 4 incident.
“Based on the information obtained during the investigation, the league did not conclude that the gun at issue belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period,” per an NBA news release. “The investigation also did not find that Morant possessed the gun while traveling with the team or in any NBA facility, and the Colorado authorities did not find sufficient cause to charge Morant with a crime.”
Still, Silver criticized what he saw on the video.
“Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” Silver said. “It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him. He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behavior. Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court.”
Morant recently spent a brief period receiving counseling in Florida to get help with “better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being,” ESPN reported.
Morant has averages of 27.1 points, 8.2 assists and 6.0 rebounds across 53 games this season. He signed a five-year contract extension last summer that could be worth up to $231 million and begins with the 2023-24 season.
–Field Level Media
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