The Golden State Warriors‘ 134-125 win over the Grizzlies on April 1 should have been a celebration of Stephen Curry’s mind-blowing 12 three-pointer studded 52-point game. Instead, the closing moments of the game took an unexpected turn when Ja Morant found himself in yet another controversy—one that fans and analysts believe could have serious consequences, bringing back the memories of 2023. Back then, Morant had to face a whopping 33-game suspension in two stints two months apart for the same offense- public display of firearms. No, on Tuesday, no actual firearms were there, but just because of his history, one of his actions came heavily under the scanner.

Just around 20 seconds left in the game, the Warriors’ Jimmy Butler was shooting free throws, giving them a seven-point lead. As he drained the two FTs, Morant was seen doing a “gun-toting” hand gesture to the Warriors’ bench, apparently in response to Buddy Heild doing the same. Both were hit with technical fouls after this. While it might just be a playful interaction, when it is Morant, how can things be that simple? Remember how much he had lost in 2023 for that firearm fiasco, that too, twice?

The first incident happened in March 2023. A video showed him at a Denver nightclub carrying firearms. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had words like “Irresponsible,” “reckless,” and “potentially very dangerous” to refer to the incident. Morant lost his All-Star spot and the $40 million guaranteed money from a Supermax contract. Moreover, he was suspended for 8 games. Still, many believe, NBA did not do what they could have done. Why? Probably because Morant had expressed what Silver described as “sincere remorse.”

“I made mistakes in the past that caused a lot of negative attention, not only to me, but my family as well, my team, the organization, and I’m completely sorry for that,” Morant had said. “So, you know, my job now is being more responsible, smarter, and don’t cause any [more off-court controversy] anymore.” Just two months passed, and how he showed his responsibility!

In May, Morant came back, this time on Instagram Live, with a firearm. The Grizzlies immediately suspended him from every activity of the team. The league, this time, showed no mercy. And Silver did not mince his words. “Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games. The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated,” Silver said. And it’s not just Morant. The NBA has been cracking down on gestures like this for years.

In 2017, Josh Jackson was fined $35,000 for a similar trigger-pulling motion toward a fan. Paul Pierce and DeShawn Stevenson were both fined $25,000 in 2008 for “menacing gestures.” Even more recently, Nikola Vucevic, Lance Stephenson, and Anthony Edwards have all faced disciplinary action for unsportsmanlike conduct tied to hand signals or taunts. The precedent is there—gestures matter, and the NBA isn’t afraid to take action. As for Morant, it hardly looks like he has taken his lessons from his previous firearm-related troubles. So, it’s easy to see why fans and analysts are calling for him to face another suspension.

Top Comment by jaba62

Yes, it appears he doesn’t learn from his past mistakes

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Fan slam Ja Morant’s repeat offense

“Ja needs to get suspended for the imitation shooting a gun at the Warriors’ bench. Dude will never EVER learn,” said one fan. Other fans were far less forgiving toward Morant, calling his decision reckless and a sign that he hasn’t learned from past mistakes. “Morant may be getting a serious fine if not a suspension from the NBA. Idk how he hasn’t learned yet that playing with guns will get you in trouble. Went from future face of the league to a fake thug with a questionable future.”

“Ja Morant literally just pretended he was shooting a gun at the Warriors’ bench. And that’s the guy you want to be the identity of your franchise Memphis? Pathetic. Suspend his a– again @NBA” commented another fan. Meanwhile, one fan put up an interesting perspective.

“Grizzlies are the Arsenal of the NBA, all talk but when it comes to winning something 🦗🦗🦗.” The comparison is telling. Both teams generate excitement, boast talented rosters, and consistently compete at a high level. Yet, when it comes to winning the biggest prizes, they always seem to fall short. The Grizzlies have made multiple playoff appearances but have never won an NBA championship, much like Arsenal’s struggles to reclaim a Premier League title since their historic 2003-04 season. The comparison underscores a growing perception that Memphis talks big but doesn’t deliver when it matters most.

However, not everyone saw an issue with the latest incident. Many pointed out that Buddy Hield was actually the one who started it, with Morant simply reacting. “Buddy Hield did it and Ja did the same thing back. Stop trying to create stuff.” The NBA’s stance on inappropriate gestures has always been strict, regardless of who initiates them. Josh Jackson was fined even though he later claimed it wasn’t intended as a gun gesture. Another fan doubled down on the idea that this was being overblown: “Buddy Hield did it first and Ja did it back. Anything to force-feed narratives.”

Now, all eyes are on the NBA. Will the league hand down another suspension, or will they view this as nothing more than a harmless exchange? Given the precedent set by previous fines and punishments for similar gestures, Morant could very well be looking at another penalty. One thing is certain—Ja Morant’s name is once again dominating headlines for all the wrong reasons. With the Grizzlies trying to salvage their season, the last thing they need is their franchise star creating more distractions.