Ja Morant has had his share of gun-related suspensions. In March 2023, he served an 8-game ban for waving a gun on an Instagram live stream. He sat out 25 games of the next season for a repeat offense–again an Insta live clip showed Morant brandishing a firearm. Now he may be on the hook for further punishment following his antics with 20 seconds left in the Memphis Grizzlies‘ 134-125 loss to Golden State on Tuesday.
In response to a mirror move by Warriors wing Buddy Hield, Morant directed his arms in a rifle-like position as he passed the Golden State bench during a timeout. Both he and Hield received a technical. Reports surfaced Tuesday that the league is investigating Morant’s gesture. Stephen A. Smith, for one, is sick of the individual focus on Morant for what is hardly a signature move.
Ja Morant’s Past Penalties Put Him Under a Microscope
Obviously, Morant has an atypical history of gun-related infractions. Players may receive suspensions for taking banned drugs or for physical altercations, but few have joined Morant in inappropriate shows of weaponry. The star guard’s track record explains much of the NBA’s scrutiny of his part in last night’s incident.
But Morant is far from the only player to wield finger guns on the court.
A gun celebration was never a problem in the NBA until Ja Morant did it 😂 pic.twitter.com/EsIvqi2htP
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) April 2, 2025
From the NBA to the NFL, professional leagues have cracked down on gun-suggestive gestures. NFL players have been penalized for raising their jerseys as though revealing a firearm. But on the hardwood, a technical foul for finger guns, let alone a full-blown investigation, is not something fans are used to seeing. It is also worth noting that Morant appears to perform the move to mimic Hield, rather than initiating it. No physical altercation took place afterward.
Ja Morant 😬
(via @NBCSWarriors)pic.twitter.com/1Q9lF917iT
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 2, 2025
In the moment, the only party visibly offended was Draymond Green, well-known for groin kicks, chest-stomps and chokeholds during the course of games. Green marched toward the nearest official with arms outstretched, presumably hunting a technical foul on Morant. Well, Green got what he wanted.
Stephen A. Smith just wants the league to let the players play.
Enjoy the Games? Stephen A. Smith Shares Wild Notion
Stephen A.’s tweet:
Come on @NBA — and the rest of us. Totally unnecessary. Let @JaMorant play in peace. Let’s not look for things. The playoffs are about to begin. Let’s enjoy the games. Morant didn’t do anything flagrant. Folks are reaching now. https://t.co/cmeWaGgYBu
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 2, 2025
Back when Morant was suspended the first time for waving a real gun, Smith did not attack Morant like others in the media, instead portraying him as a misguided youth in need of counsel, but he did not dispute the need for punishment. He was less sympathetic the second time around. It is not as if Smith is a Ja Morant apologist.
This latest incident did not involve a physical weapon. As Smith says, it was fairly harmless–arguably a far less detrimental example to young audiences than the screaming in refs’ faces that occurs on almost every possession, unpenalized.
Clearly there is a basis for targeting Morant based on his history, but in this rare circumstance, Smith is right about something: “Let’s not look for things.” Hand out technicals. Dole out fines. But an investigation? For what? To confirm Morant really did point finger guns back at Hield, an emote LeBron James has also practiced, among many others? Gasp.
The league has bemoaned unsatisfactory ratings all season. If commissioner Adam Silver wants fans to watch the games, then make the games the focus–not issues with the relevance of classroom spit-balling. Call Morant into the principal’s office. Take the penalty check for $25,000. And get back to the action. With all the ad breaks, load management and injuries keeping players off the floor, there’s reason enough not to watch games already.
For More Great Hardwood Heroics Content
Follow ezsniper14 on X for more great content. To read more articles and keep up to date on the latest in NBA and College Basketball, click here!
