The NBA world has been waiting to see what punishment would be meted out to Ja Morant after his second gun-related incident on social media.
The Memphis Grizzlies would have been worried about Morant getting suspended for half a season or a full season, but it was revealed on Friday that it would be a 25-game suspension. In the aftermath, Adrian Wojnarowski shared a statement from Ja himself.
“I’ve had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I’ve caused,” Morant wrote. “I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates, and the city of Memphis. To Adam Silver, Zach Kleiman, and Robert Pera – who gave me the opportunity to be a professional athlete and have supported me – I’m sorry for the harm I’ve done.
“To the kids who look up to me, I’m sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I’m going to be a better representation of our brands. And to all of my fans, I’m going to make it up to you, I promise.
“I’m spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision-making. I’m also going to be training so that I’m ready to go when I can be back on the court. I know my teammates are going to hold it down and I’m so sorry I won’t be out there with you at the beginning of the season.
“I hope you’ll give me the chance to prove to you over time I’m a better man than what I’ve been showing you.”
Ja Morant statement: pic.twitter.com/KJCxTVEIRj
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2023
The statement is similar to what fans might have been expecting, it’s obvious that Morant’s representatives and his team have crafted it carefully. It’s quite similar to the statement he released after his initial 8-game suspension during the season, and words are unlikely to be enough to make the fans believe him this time.
Ja Morant Will Lose $7.6 Million Thanks To His Suspension
Ja Morant has suffered the consequences on his career in terms of playing time and sponsorships thanks to his activities, but his NBA earnings will also be affected. The CBA states that a player loses 1/110th of their game salary if they are suspended for over 20 games.
Morant signed a 5-year, $192 million extension that kicks in starting in July. That means he will lose $304,000 for every game that he misses, which adds up to $7.6 million in lost salary over 25 games.
After a string of incidents has led to Morant receiving a lot of criticism and, eventually, punishment, the hope is that he has finally learned not to get himself in trouble. Only time will tell, though, but this is surely his final warning, as another incident will have repercussions that are far more harsh.
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