Adam Silver will wait until after the NBA Finals to announce Ja Morant‘s punishment for his latest gun-related incident, but the commissioner dropped some hints about the length of a potential suspension during his press conference last week, writes Mark Giannatto of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Giannatto examines five statements from Silver to get an idea of what Morant’s suspension might look like. He suggests that the commissioner seemed more disappointed than angry about Morant’s behavior when he talked about creating “better circumstances going forward” for the Grizzlies star.
Silver mentioned the involvement of the players’ union in the process, which Giannatto believes may be encouraging for Morant. He points out that no player has ever been suspended for more than 30 games without being charged with a crime and theorizes that the NBPA won’t let that happen to Morant without putting up a fight.
There’s more on the Grizzlies:
- Appearing on Paul George‘s podcast, Jaren Jackson Jr. expressed support for Morant and said he’s holding up well amid the likelihood of suspension, relays Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal. “He’s good,” Jackson said. “That’s my brother, though. No matter what, I stand by my brother, and I think that’s the lesson everybody should take away from this. … Everybody is going to say whatever, but they’re everybody. It never matters at the end of the day. This is your family. This is your brother.”
- The absence of Morant will make this an especially important season for Desmond Bane, Cole adds in a separate story. Bane, who will be on the final year of his rookie contract, will have to assume a larger leadership role on the team and Cole states that he might have All-Star potential. Cole also points to Santi Aldama, Ziaire Williams, Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Tyus Jones as players to watch heading into next season.
- The Grizzlies never fully recovered after losing Steven Adams to a right knee injury in January, Cole states in another Commercial Appeal piece. The team’s starting center appeared in a career-low 42 games this season and was especially missed in the playoffs when Memphis was outmuscled in a first-round loss to the Lakers. Cole adds that in addition to his rebounding, the Grizzlies also missed Adams’ screen setting and his leadership as the oldest player on the team.
Ja…lose da posse!
Ja’s choices are his alone to make. I hate this bail out narrative of “bad influence friends”
You can hate the narrative but it’s not wrong.
Ja Morant will probably get suspended for 41 games. Half of a NBA season.
I like that Jaren Jackson Jr. supporting his brother, friend, and teammate.
Ja Morant made some terrible mistakes but I think he can back from it all. I’ve made some terrible mistakes when I was his age as well. It’s not how you fall it’s how you get up.
Suspend him for the second half and the playoffs
He is out the first 30 games and then on court arrest after. Straight to work. Straight back home. No socializing of any kind and very controlled contact with the public and media.
No matter what ? Really
Everybody’s going to say what they say ? What exactly else is there to say ? This isn’t a polarizing right / wrong situation here , this is an idiot promoting deadly weapons while putting your own early career years at stake –
Weak take by Jarren
Tyus Jones is the best backup Point Guard in the NBA and will have a chance to start and shine in a contract year. 2024 summer he will get a big bag!!!
Desmond Bane is the real deal. Definitely can be a All Star and a top 5 shooting guard in the NBA.
@Rain
If you listen to the audio, JJJ really isn’t the type of dude to publicly air out anyone. Let alone one of his teammates or “brothers”. Personally I wouldn’t either and take the high road like he did if I was in the situation. JJJ is just doing a podcast with Paul George and his bros lol. Not exactly the platform to be taking shots at Ja or whatever you want him to do.
Giannatto probably has their own videos dancing around like a fool with a dangerous weapon…
The NBAPA doesn’t want their members to be associated with violence…
JJJ wasted an opportunity… Could of used the moment to lay some truth down that could have “his brother” learning quicker and stay on the court…
That type of attitude just encourages the foolishness…
Ja’s team is now coming out trying to say it wasn’t a real gun….
Flashing a fake gun is a great way to get your butt shot