Ja Morant may have had one of his best offensive games of the season, but once again, it’s his off-court baggage that stole the headlines.
During the Memphis Grizzlies’ 134-125 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Morant dropped 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, adding six assists in an electric display.
However, his brilliance was overshadowed late in the game when he appeared to make a gun gesture toward the Warriors bench—an act that immediately went viral and drew widespread criticism, especially given his history.
The Golden State Warriors bench’s reaction to Ja Morant finger guns
(h/t @chanodesigns) pic.twitter.com/6BVm96tn3w
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 2, 2025
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Buddy Hield were visibly stunned by the move. Cameras caught the trio reacting on the bench with disbelief, their expressions a mix of confusion and disappointment. For a team that has dealt with intense rivalries and trash talk over the years, this was different. It wasn’t just bravado—it hit on something much deeper given Morant’s past.
Ja Morant appeared to make a gun gesture at the Warriors' bench late in the game 🤨 pic.twitter.com/fTvFA0wpit
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 2, 2025
The NBA has been firm in its stance against any promotion of gun culture, with Commissioner Adam Silver previously describing the league’s messaging around gun violence as “non-negotiable.”
And yet, here was Ja Morant—who’s already been suspended twice for firearm-related incidents—seemingly flirting with controversy again.
Morant’s past includes two highly publicized suspensions. The first came in March 2023, when he was suspended eight games for flashing a gun on Instagram Live while at a club. Just months later, another video surfaced of him again brandishing a firearm on social media, which led to a 25-game suspension.
Those incidents cost him tens of millions of dollars, including an All-NBA selection that would have triggered a supermax contract bonus. He lost endorsements, public trust, and his reputation took a serious hit.
After those mistakes, Morant had claimed to be on a path of personal growth. His camp repeatedly stated that he understood the weight of his actions and that he would mature. But Saturday night’s gesture, whether intended as a joke or a retaliatory response to the Warriors bench, showed a stunning lack of self-awareness.
Even so, Ja isn’t like every other player anymore. He’s under a magnifying glass, and gestures like this—even subtle—carry more weight when they come from someone with his track record.
Whether it was a heat-of-the-moment reaction or something more deliberate, it adds another layer of drama to an already complicated relationship between Morant and the league.
The NBA has not issued a statement yet, and it’s unclear whether any punishment will follow. But the damage may already be done—at least reputationally. For a player trying to restore his image and lead his team out of a spiral, these moments matter.
Ja Morant can’t afford to keep making the same mistakes. If he truly wants to move forward, gestures like this—no matter how minor—must disappear from his game.
