The Memphis Grizzlies announced that guard Ja Morant will not play against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, citing conduct detrimental to the team. The decision follows a difficult night for the two-time All-Star, who struggled in Friday’s 117–112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and appeared visibly frustrated both on and off the court.
Ja Morant managed just eight points in the defeat and missed all seven of his second-half attempts. Despite logging more fourth-quarter minutes than any of his teammates, his body language drew attention. At one point, he walked several steps away from the bench during a timeout, a moment that showed his disengagement.
Following the game, Ja Morant offered little clarity. In a brief media session, he repeatedly deflected questions, telling reporters to “go ask the coaching staff.” When pressed about his role, he added, “According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly. That’s basically what the message was after. It’s cool.” His comments contrasted with the fact that he played over 16 minutes in the second half, second only to Jaren Jackson Jr.
The suspension adds to a growing list of disciplinary issues for the 25-year-old. In 2023, Morant was suspended twice for separate firearm-related incidents, costing him 33 games and an estimated $8.3 million in salary. The first came after he appeared intoxicated while displaying a gun during a live stream from a Denver-area nightclub, resulting in an eight-game ban.
Later that year, he received a 25-game suspension for brandishing a firearm in a car during another live stream, despite prior assurances to the league that such behavior would not be repeated.
Morant’s troubles have not been limited to suspensions. Last season, he was fined $75,000 for making a gun-like hand gesture after hitting a three-pointer, which the NBA deemed inappropriate. The league noted he had previously been warned that the gesture could be interpreted negatively.
Now in the third year of a five-year, $197.2 million contract, Ja Morant remains central to Memphis’s long-term plans. Through six games this season, he is averaging 20.8 points per contest. Yet the latest suspension raises further questions about his reliability and the impact of his off-court decisions on the Grizzlies’ trajectory.
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