NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that the league will wait until after the Finals to release its latest investigation into the behavior of Memphis Grizzlies guard Jay Morant and potential disciplinary action against him. .
An investigation was launched on May 13 after Morant allegedly brandished a firearm in public for the second time in more than two months. Silver declined to say whether Morant could play for the Grizzlies early next season.
“I think we’ve probably done it now,” Silver said at a press conference in Denver ahead of Game 1 of the Nuggets-Miami Heat championship series. “However, we have made the decision that it would be unfair to release findings against these players and teams midway through the series, and I believe the Players Association agrees with us.”
Morant is a two-time All-Star and, at 23, is already one of the league’s most exciting players. The league said in a statement that the NBA acted harm to the league in March after the player appeared in an Instagram Live video of him “intoxicated and with a firearm” while visiting a nightclub near Denver. He was suspended for eight games without pay. Shortly after the video streamed, Morant left the team and checked into a counseling facility in Florida. After his return to the Grizzlies, Morant told reporters that he spent time at the facility learning how to better manage stress and improve himself.
But last month, a new Instagram Live video showed Morant firing a gun while in a car. The Grizzlies, already eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers, immediately suspended Morant’s entire team while the league reviewed the video.
Silver said Thursday that the league has “revealed a significant amount of additional information” but declined to provide further details.
Silver was also asked if he thought the suspension for the first eight games of the league sent a strong enough message to Morant. At the time, Mr. Morant appeared to be “spoken from the heart” in conversations with league officials, Silver said.
“But I think he understood that it wasn’t about his words, it was about his future actions,” Silver said. “So in hindsight, I don’t know. If it was a 12-game suspension instead of an eight-game suspension, would that have mattered?”
he added: “It seemed appropriate at the time. Perhaps, by definition, to that extent, we’ve all seen the video. Apparently we’ve done it again. So, probably not.” I would say no, but I don’t think we know yet what it takes to change his behavior.”
The NBA has penalized players for similar conduct. For example, during the 2009-10 season, Washington Wizards forward Gilbert Arenas was suspended for 50 games for violating league rules for carrying a gun into the team’s locker room. Arenas, a three-time All-Star at the time, also seemed to make light of the situation with a finger-gun gesture during the game, even though the league was investigating his actions.
Silver called Morant a “great young man” but “clearly made some mistakes.”
“But he’s young,” said Silver. , his team, and what he and those around him will do to create a better situation going forward. I think that’s the most important thing here in the end. “
Sopan Deb Contributed to a report from Denver.
