Ja Morant admits she made a “big mistake” when she posed on Instagram with a gun at a strip club in Colorado, revealing that the firearm was NOT hers, as she vows to become a better role model.
Ja Morant has spoken publicly for the first time since he was seen brandishing a gun at a Denver-area strip club, acknowledging he made a “big mistake” and has spoken to therapists while off the team.
Morant last played for the Grizzlies on March 3, and the league suspended him Wednesday for eight games without pay, with the five he has missed thus far counted in the suspension.
While it’s not immediately clear when Morant will return to the court, he did speak about his actions to ESPN in an interview with Jalen Rose.
“The gun wasn’t mine,” Morant told Rose in the interview, which will air in its entirety Wednesday night.
‘It’s not who I am. I do not condone any kind of violence. But I take full responsibility for my actions. I made a serious mistake.
Rose also asked Morant if he “takes pride in being a role model,” to which the Memphis superstar replied, “Yes.” I realize that I have many children who look up to me. Even probably some adults. I realize that my past mistakes are not a good role model.
Ja Morant has been suspended for eight games after meeting with NBA chief Adam Silver
Morant appeared to be holding a gun in an Instagram Live video after a loss to the Nuggets
Morant added that, with the help of therapy, Reiki treatment and ‘anxiety breathing’, he ‘feels[s] mentally good where I haven’t been in many years.’
In a news release released Wednesday, the NBA “did not conclude that the gun in question belonged to Morant, that he brought it to the nightclub, or that he displayed it for more than a brief period.”
The statement added that Morant was not found “in possession of the weapon while traveling with the team or at any NBA facility.”
Morant traveled to New York City to meet with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after entering (and leaving) a counseling program in Florida.
However, while Morant is eligible to play on Monday, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins has already indicated that he is not expected to play in that game, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
Prior to the incident at the strip club, Morant was under fire after details emerged of a lawsuit report that said Morant and an associate beat up a teenager ’12-13 times’ after playing basketball at Morant’s home. .
Additionally, the Washington Post also reported that Morant and his associates had a run-in with a security guard at a local mall that left the security guard fearing for his safety, after a member of the group mentioned waiting for the guard when he left. . out of work.