The Memphis Grizzlies star, Ja Morant, stirred controversy recently with his gun-shooting celebration following a game-winning alley-oop on Tuesday night.
Morant secured a road victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center with a decisive dunk. During his celebration, he mimicked shooting imaginary bullets into the crowd, raising eyebrows and generating controversy.
The 24-year-old’s actions come in the wake of a 25-game suspension imposed by the NBA for multiple instances of displaying a firearm on social media. Given this recent suspension, it seems ill-timed for Morant to simulate shooting a weapon.
Despite the controversy, Morant played a pivotal role in the Grizzlies’ success, scoring 31 points and leading them to a 116-115 overtime victory against the Pelicans. This win marked the team’s fourth consecutive triumph since Morant’s return, transforming their record from 6-19 to 10-19.
Morant received recognition for his outstanding performance, being named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday. He averaged 28.8 points in the games following his suspension.
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Although the Grizzlies still find themselves in 13th place in the Western Conference, there is optimism about their potential to climb the standings. With a cluster of teams at the bottom, the Grizzlies have an opportunity to make significant progress and add excitement to the second half of the season.
Ja Morant’s persistent fascination with guns continues to perplex observers and raises questions about the appropriateness of his actions, especially given recent disciplinary measures by the NBA.
