Ja Morant has reportedly filed a countersuit against a teenager who claims the Memphis Grizzlies superstar displayed a weapon after a physical altercation between the two last summer.
Morant and the boy fought each other during a casual game of basketball at Morant’s residence after sharing rough passes to control the ball. The boy’s return pass slipped out of his hands and hit Morant square in the face.
The star guard claims the pass could have ended his career.
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Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at FedExForum on February 28, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)
When the ball hit Morant, he rested his chin on the boy’s shoulder and asked a friend, «Do I do it for him?» When the friend answered yes, Morant appeared to punch the boy in the jaw. Morant allegedly hit the boy «12 or 13 times» and his friends added «four or five» more hits.
After the fight, the boy, according to Morant, said that he would «come back and light this place up like fireworks.» Morant later filed a police report on the boy’s comment, citing threats to his family. That’s when Morant came back outside with a gun, according to the teen, but Morant says that’s an untrue claim.
The teen «lied to police that Morant was brandishing a gun and that key details of the case, once sealed, were leaked to the media in violation of a court order.» the counterclaim says.
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrates her three point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter of the game at Target Center on November 30, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)
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Morant admitted that he «swinged first» but said he acted in self-defense, pointing out that the boy had become the aggressor by throwing a basketball at Morant’s head and pulling up his pants as a sign of «wanting to fight.» «, according to the Washington. Mail.
Shortly after the allegations, Morant filmed himself at a nightclub where he displayed a gun on video, an act that landed him with an eight-game suspension (he ultimately missed nine while entering a counseling program).
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) handles the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
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Morant’s Grizzlies are currently the second seed in the Western Conference and are set to begin a seven-game series against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.