Ja Morant stands out as one of the NBA’s most promising talents. He holds a prominent spot on the list of upcoming NBA superstars. His lightning-fast quickness, Derrick Rose’s explosive style, and Kyrie Irving-like finesse make him a fan favorite. Furthermore, his penchant for posterizing taller opponents makes him a highlight machine. However, Ja Morant has recently found himself facing the less glamorous side of stardom, one that places considerable responsibility on individuals, especially when they serve as role models to the youth.

Towards the end of the last season, Morant came under scrutiny for a social media post in which he was seen displaying a firearm. Consequently, the Memphis Grizzlies took action by suspending him for a number of games. Unfortunately, Morant’s troubles didn’t end there. He was once again spotted with a firearm in an Instagram post a few months later. This time, the NBA took a much tougher stance, resulting in a 25-game suspension for the All-Star point guard.

Ja Morant returns December 19, losing all NBA awards eligibility and $7.5 mil?

Ja’s suspension comes as a significant blow to the Memphis Grizzlies. They finished second in the Western Conference last season. Now, they’ll have to navigate a substantial portion of the upcoming season without their star player.

Ja Morant’s suspension extends through the first 25 games of the 2023-24 regular season. This means that he will make a return on December 19 in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. However, a 25-game absence is not the only punishment Ja has been directed to. In financial terms, Morant was set to earn approximately $33.5 million for the 2023-34 season. Now, he will lose just over $300,000 for each game he misses during the suspension. In total, the amount will come around $7.5 million. Furthermore, the suspension rules Morant out of contention for any end-of-season awards in 2024 since a minimum of 65 games are needed to be eligible. This includes MVP and every all-NBA award.

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Morant’s actions, even in the absence of any criminal charges, carry significant repercussions. It is a major cause of concern since the country has been grappling with a significant gun violence problem. As one of the NBA’s top figures, Morant unconsciously serves as a role model for the upcoming generation.?

Morant will practice and travel with the Memphis Grizzlies

Initially, it was stated that Ja Morant is barred from participating in any team-related activities. This included preseason games, scrimmages, and others for the duration of his suspension. However, in a recent interview, the Grizzlies’ head coach confirms otherwise. He claims that Ja Morant will join the team for practices and will probably travel with them during his suspension.

Furthermore, Grizzlies’ general manager Zach Kleiman has asserted that the NBA has granted permission for Morant to accompany the team and even play alongside them during this period.

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However, despite Morant’s availability to join for the preseason, Memphis has different plans. Jenkins claims that Morant won’t be working with the starting lineup during the training camp. He states that the decision stems from the team’s need to prepare for the season without Morant.