There is no timetable for Ja Morant to return to the Memphis Grizzlies as he sits down after controversy over the weekend in which he appeared brandishing a gun while out at a nightclub on a live broadcast on social media, he said. on Sunday coach Taylor Jenkins.
Morant was not with the team in Los Angeles for the Grizzlies’ game Sunday against the Clippers. The team will play the Lakers on Tuesday.
Jenkins said before the team’s game against the Clippers that Morant has made «tough decisions and poor choices» that he must hold accountable for.
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Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins listens to a question about Ja Morant during a news conference before an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
«He’s definitely coming to terms with the mistakes he’s made, but only time will tell. We’ll stand by him and hold him accountable for making those changes,» Jenkins said, declining to spell out the exact steps Morant needed to get back to the Grizzlies.
«We love him, we want the best for him, we support him. It’s going to be a tough process, but we have a great group to get us through this.»
Jenkins added that it was «an ongoing healing process.»
Morant broadcast the video on his Instagram Live and a screenshot of him appearing to be holding the gun quickly circulated on social media.
March 3, 2023; Denver, Colorado, United States; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) adjusts his face shield during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
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He later issued an apology after receiving a two-game suspension.
«I take full responsibility for my actions last night,» Morant said. «I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting them down. I will take time to get help and work to learn better methods of dealing with stress and my general well-being.
The gun incident is the latest in a series of controversies hanging over the superstar point guard. Morant’s actions came under investigation after a Jan. 29 incident in Memphis that he said led to a friend, Davonte Pack, being banned from home games for a year.
March 3, 2023; Denver, Colorado, United States; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) watches the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
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Morant and Pack are also involved in a civil lawsuit brought after an incident last summer in which a 17-year-old boy alleged he was assaulted at Morant’s home. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said in January that it was «aware of the incident and, after a careful review of the facts, decided that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case.»
Associated Press contributed to this report.