The NBA has launched an investigation into Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant after he appeared to mimic shooting a gun with his hands and arms in the direction of the Golden State Warriors bench on Tuesday.
The controversial moment unfolded during a timeout with just 20 seconds left in the Warriors’ 134-125 victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis.
As Morant made his way toward the Grizzlies’ bench on the opposite side of the court, he extended his left arm and formed finger guns with both hands, pointing toward the Warriors’ bench.
Officials responded by issuing a double technical foul to the player.
Morant, a two-time All-Star, has a history of league discipline related to firearm incidents. The NBA has previously suspended the 25-year-old guard twice for flashing a gun on social media.
His first suspension came in March 2023 after he was seen brandishing a firearm during an Instagram Live session at a nightclub following a loss to the Denver Nuggets.
The NBA is looking into Memphis' Ja Morant using finger gun motions toward the Golden State Warriors bench last night, sources tell me and @espn_macmahon.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 2, 2025
The league initially handed him an indefinite suspension, which was later reduced to eight games.
A second violation occurred in May 2023, when Morant once again displayed a gun during an Instagram Live video on a friend’s account. This time, the NBA imposed a 25-game suspension for the start of the 2023-24 season.
The Grizzlies, currently with a 44-32 record, have been in a rough patch, losing seven of their last eight games and slipping to sixth place in the Western Conference standings.
Head coach Taylor Jenkins was dismissed on Friday as the team looks to regain momentum before the play-offs.
