Adam Silver 'shocked' Grizzlies star Ja Morant was seen with firearm once again

After seeing Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant in yet another Instagram Live video holding a firearm, NBA commissioner Adam Silver was “shocked.”

Silver spoke with ESPN’s Malika Andrews about the situation that comes just two months after Morant was suspended eight games for doing the same thing on his own Instagram account while at a nightclub. This time, Morant was caught on a friend’s Instagram account while they were in a car together. 

“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw this weekend that video,” Silver said from the NBA Draft Lottery Tuesday. “Now, we’re in the process of investigating it, and we’ll figure out exactly what happened to the best we can. The video is a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst.”

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The Instagram account belonged to Morant’s friend, Davonte Pack, who was also involved in multiple off-the-court instances that the league has investigated. He was also banned from Grizzlies games for one year after getting involved in a post-game altercation with the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 29. 

At that time, the Pacers claimed they saw a red laser pointed at them from an SUV where Morant was inside. However, the league’s investigation “could not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon.”

Morant’s first incident with a handgun came while intoxicated at a club while in Denver to face the Nuggets.

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Morant enrolled in a counseling facility in Florida. There, Morant was set to learn about how to better manage stress. 

He later traveled to New York City to meet with Silver, which came 11 days after the incident in Denver. 

After the meeting, Silver laid down his punishment: Eight games suspended without pay. Silver called Morant’s actions “irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous.”

“Before we got to a subsequent potential to have done something wrong, we were very focused on the misconduct that was in front of us at the time,” Silver said on Tuesday, via ESPN. “Frankly, most of our conversation was about how incredibly serious the first incident was of waving a firearm on social media. 

“Against, the consequences there — an eight-game suspension — was pretty serious and something that he, at least to me, seemed to take incredibly seriously in that time. And we spoke for a long time about not just the consequences that could have on his career, but the safety issues around it – [Morant] could’ve injured, maimed, killed himself, someone else with an act like that – and also the acknowledgment that he’s a star. He has an incredibly huge following, and [we discussed] my concern — and I thought he shared with me — that millions, if not tens of millions, of kids globally would have seen him do something that was celebrating in a way that act of using a firearm in that fashion.” 

While the NBA investigates Morant’s incident, the Grizzlies have suspended him from all team activities pending the league’s review. 

Suspended Grizzlies star Ja Morant's nightclub incident could cost him $39 million: report

Ja Morant has quickly become a superstar. The Memphis Grizzlies guard has a unique skill set and is often the most gifted athlete on the basketball court on any given night.

His high-flying slam dunks have taken the internet by storm over the past couple of years, and he has helped lift his team to multiple playoff appearances and a division title. Last July, the Grizzlies rewarded Morant with a five-year supermax contract extension.

The contract included incentives which entitled Morant to nearly a quarter-billion dollars if he met certain thresholds this season.

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Now, Morant has garnered a significant amount of attention on the internet, but for reasons that have nothing to do with his on the court feats. 

Morant briefly flashed a handgun at a strip club near Denver in an Instagram Live video on March 4. The ensuing fallout resulted in an eight-game suspension without pay for conduct detrimental to the league, the NBA announced Wednesday.

But the impact of Morant’s actions could further cost the star athlete an estimated $39 million.

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Per an NBA rule known as the “Derrick Rose Rule,” a team can pay 30% of its salary cap to any player that signs a maximum Designated Rookie extension, if that player meets certain qualifications.

The select qualifications include a player winning the MVP award, two Defensive Player of the Year awards in the past three seasons or two All-NBA team appearances. At least one of those qualifications has to be met before the max contract kicks in for the player to receive the salary bump.

Morant already has one appearance on the All-NBA team to his credit, and appeared to be on his way to a second appearance until the incident earlier this month.

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According to Spotrac, a second All-NBA team appearance would result in the value of Morant’s extension jumping from $194 million to $233 million.

The issue is that Morant might not play in enough games this season to qualify for an All-NBA team. If he plays in every remaining game after he returns from his suspension, Morant would finish the season with 65 games played.

“I feel like in the past we didn’t know what was at stake,” Morant said during a sit-down interview with ESPN’s Jalen Rose on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies have managed to hold onto the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference while Morant has been away from the team. Memphis is hoping to make a deep playoff run this upcoming postseason — with the help of Morant.