- Ja Morant helped the Memphis Grizzlies beat the New Orleans Pelicans
- But the point guard got into trouble after celebrating a dunk
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Ja Morant has flirted with controversy again after appearing to hold a gun celebration a week after returning from a 25-match ban for flashing a firearm.
Morant has been disciplined twice after being caught on camera holding a gun. He was suspended for eight games last season — over a social media clip at a strip club — and then again for the first 25 games of this season over an Instagram Live video while in a car.
Morant returned to the court on December 19 and helped the Grizzlies to four straight victories. Against the Pelicans on Tuesday night, the 24-year-old scored a dunk late in overtime as Memphis won 116-115.
Morant then celebrated by reaching out with both arms and pulling the trigger before moving his hands to his head – as if he were holding something on his shoulder.
The 24-year-old posted another tweet claiming he was imitating LSU players doing a similar celebration after scoring a touchdown.
Ja Morant celebrated a dunk by extending his arms and pulling the trigger
The guard then moved his hands to his head – as if he were holding something on his shoulder
But many social media users interpreted his actions as Morant flashing a gun at the crowd.
Still the Grizzlies posted the dunk and celebration to the team's official account on X, formerly known as Twitter.
After his second suspension, Morant apologized for the “harm” he caused and his inability to act as a role model “for the kids who look up to me.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, meanwhile described the second video as “alarming” and “disturbing.”
Before Tuesday's game Morant was named Western Conference Player of the Week after leading the Memphis team to its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Before Tuesday's game, Morant was named Western Conference Player of the Week