Ja Morant responds after report of laser coming from SUV NBA star riding in 'targeted opposition pla

Posted by Reinaldo Massengill on Tuesday, May 7, 2024

SEVERAL acquaintances of NBA star Ja Morant have been banned from Memphis Grizzlies home games after an incident following a game last month.

The group allegedly "aggressively confronted" members of the Indiana Pacers' traveling party on January 29.

Morant, 23, played in the Grizzlies' 112-100 win over the Pacers that night at FedExForum.

During the ill-tempered game, Morant’s longtime friend Davonte Pack walked onto the court and began remonstrating with Pacer players and staff.

The contest was briefly halted, with Morant's father Tee also reportedly involved in the verbal sparring.

According to reports in The Athletic, following the incident, "acquaintances of Morant" confronted members of the Pacers traveling party outside the arena.

READ MORE ON NBA

This allegedly occurred as Pacers' players and coaches waited for the team bus inside the stadium loading bay.

The report alleges that a slow-moving SUV - with Morant as a passenger - passed by with a red laser shining from the vehicle.

One person told The Athletic anonymously out of fear of retaliation they felt they were in "great danger," with fears the laser could have been attached to a gun.

The NBA opened an investigation into the incident and has since banned "certain individuals" from the arena.

Most read in NBA

A statement read: "NBA Security and league investigators conducted an investigation interviewing numerous eyewitnesses and reviewing video surveillance following allegations made by the Indiana Pacers organization regarding a postgame incident on Jan. 29.

"While we substantiated that a postgame situation arose that was confrontational, based on interviews and other evidence gathered, we could not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon.

"Certain individuals involved in the postgame situation and a related matter during the game that night have been subsequently banned from attending games in the arena.

"If additional information becomes available related to the postgame situation, the league office will conduct a further review."

Morant took to social media on February 5 to claim that his "brother" had been banned from home games for a "year."

Morant wrote: "Did a investigation seen they were cappin[sic].

"Still let a article come out to paint this negative image on me & my fam.

"banned my brother from home games for a year. Unbelievable."

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins confirmed on Sunday that the matter had been "addressed internally" by the organization.

Jenkins added: "The NBA did a full-on investigation, we were fully compliant with it."

Read More on The US Sun

Morant was taken as the second overall pick by the Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA Draft.

He missed Sunday's game against the Toronto Raptors with right wrist soreness, and so far this season has averaged 27.3 points per game.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEZqqupl6YvK570qmmq6xfbIBzfJBqa2iikWK6sL7Ap6tmpJGosrN50q6tZqaSlnw%3D