NBA NEWS - NBA suspends Grizzlies’ Ja Morant for 25 games

Ja Morant - (NBA photo)

# 4 on our NEW NR TOP 10 is: ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN - Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com NR TOP 10 ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN MAGIC JOHNSON & PHAL SAMPHORS

With conditions for reinstatement - The league office found that, on May 13, Morant intentionally and prominently displayed a gun while in a car with several other individuals - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

NEW YORK, NY USA.

Friday June 16, 2023

The NBA announced today that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended 25 games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league.

Morant posed with a firearm in a car during a live-streamed video on May 13, less than two months after he was suspended eight games without pay for the live streaming of a video on March 4 in which he displayed a firearm while in an intoxicated state at a Denver area nightclub.

The league office found that, on May 13, Morant intentionally and prominently displayed a gun while in a car with several other individuals as they were leaving a social gathering in Memphis. Morant wielded the firearm while knowing that he was being recorded and that the recording was being live streamed on Instagram Live, despite having made commitments to the NBA and public statements that he would not repeat the conduct for which he was previously disciplined. On May 16, Morant issued a statement taking full accountability for his actions.

Morant’s suspension begins immediately and will remain in effect through the first 25 games of the 2023-24 NBA regular season for which he is otherwise eligible and able to play. He will also be required to meet certain conditions before he returns to play and will be ineligible to participate in any public league or team activities, including preseason games, during the course of his suspension.

“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.

“For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time. Prior to his return to play, he will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior.”

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

June 16, 1988 A crowd of 4l,732, the largest ever to attend an NBA Playoff game, turned out at the Pontiac Silverdome to see the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers 104-94 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to take a 3-2 lead in the series won by the Lakers in seven games.

June 16, 1993 Chicago defeated Phoenix 111-105 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Chicago Stadium, as the Bulls’ Michael Jordan erupted for 55 points (21-of-37 FGs, 13-of-18 FTs). Jordan’s 55-point effort matched the second-highest single-game point total in Finals history. Elgin Baylor of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the Finals scoring record, with 61 points on April 14, 1962 against Boston. Rick Barry scored 55 points for San Francisco against Philadelphia on April 18, 1967.

June 16, 1996 Chicago’s series-clinching victory over Seattle draws an 18.8 rating and a 35 share on NBC, with the game pulling in an estimated 60 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA game ever on television. The six games of the Chicago-Seattle series average a 16.7 rating, ranking second all-time behind the six games of the 1993 Chicago-Phoenix series, which averaged a 17.9 rating.

June 16, 1996 Paced by Michael Jordan's 22 points and seven assists, Dennis Rodman's 19 rebounds and Scottie Pippen's 17 points and four steals, Chicago defeated visiting Seattle 87-75 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, winning the series 4-2 and clinching the Bulls' fourth NBA Championship in six seasons. Jordan became the only player ever to win the NBA Finals MVP Award four times, after averaging 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in the championship series.

June 16, 1999 39,514 fans were in attendance in San Antonio’s Alamodome for Game 1 of the 1999 NBA Finals versus the New York Knicks. The fans saw the Spurs win 89-77 as they marked the second highest attendance mark in NBA Finals history. The record of 41,732 was set when the Los Angeles Lakers played the Detroit Pistons on June 16 of the 1988 NBA Finals.

June 16, 1999 The Los Angeles Lakers named Phil Jackson as head coach, replacing Kurt Rambis. Jackson returned to the NBA after a year off from coaching after leading the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in eight years.

June 16, 2000 Reggie Miller’s four-point play at the 4:46 mark of the first quarter of Indiana’s 120-87 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of NBA Finals 2000 is the sixth four-point play in NBA Finals history and the second this series. The Lakers’ Glen Rice accomplished the feat in Game 4, marking the second time the feat has been accomplished twice in the same series.