Leave it to former NBA player Gilbert Arenas to insert himself into the current situation with Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.
The NBA fined Morant $75,000 for his finger-gun gesture, which the league called ‘inappropriate,’ in a game against the Miami Heat after the two-time All-Star had been warned for using the same gesture in a contest against the Golden State Warriors.
During his podcast, Arenas said Morant should mimic throwing a grenade during his on-court celebrations. In 2010, Arenas, while playing for the Washington Wizards, was suspended by the NBA after he brought a gun into an arena following an argument with teammate Javaris Crittenton.
Apparently, Morant was listening to Arenas because during a Tuesday night game against the Charlotte Hornets, Morant did the grenade celebration by pretending to pull on something with his teeth and throwing it into the Spectrum Center crowd, before covering his ears while running back down the court after hitting a 3-pointer.
Morant’s previous incidents
Morant has been suspended twice by the NBA for showing a gun on social media.
- In March 2023, Morant was suspended for eight games for conduct detrimental to the league after livestreaming a video where he is seen with a gun at a Denver nightclub. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said at the time Morant’s conduct was ‘irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous.’
- Just three months later, the NBA suspended Morant for 25 games without pay after he again brandished a weapon on social media. During his suspension, Morant, who apologized for his actions, lost $7.5 million in salary. He returned to the court in December, but only played in nine games that season after having right shoulder surgery.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.