Ja Morant isn’t using gun celebrations any more, but he is still continuing on the theme of weapons.
The Memphis Grizzlies star Morant debuted a notable new celebration during his team’s game on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets. After hitting a three-pointer over Hornets big man Taj Gibson in the third quarter, Morant pretended to bring out a grenade and pull the pin with his teeth. He then turned and threw the imaginary grenade into the crowd (even going on to cover his ears in anticipation of the imaginary explosion).
Here is the video (featuring Grizzlies color commentator and former NBA guard Brevin Knight questioning what exactly Morant had just done).
The two-time All-Star Morant, who has been suspended multiple times by the NBA for flashing real weapons on social media, recently got himself into hot water with the league again over his gun gestures. During a game against the Golden State Warriors last week, Morant exchanged gun motions with Warriors guard Buddy Hield. The NBA issued a warning to Morant over the move, saying that the gesture was “inappropriate.”
But Morant was not fazed at all by the warning and did a gun celebration after his very first basket in the very next game for Memphis against the Miami Heat (video here). For that show of defiance, the league ended up fining Morant $75,000.
It is anyone’s guess if the NBA will do anything about Morant’s new grenade celebration. But the Grizzlies were up big on the Hornets at the time (eventually winning 124-100), and Morant was feeling good enough in the middle of things to push the envelope once again.
