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11 months ago
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Ja Morant can expect a chat with Adam Silver in the coming days as he prepares to return from his 25-game suspension for flashing a handgun in a viral video.
Addressing reporters at the league's inaugural in-season tournament in Las Vegas, the NBA Commissioner said he would personally 'check in' with the Memphis Grizzlies guard in the coming week.
'Yes, I have been monitoring the situation closely, and him,' Silver said Saturday. 'In fact, we intend to have a check-in this week directly, Ja and I.
'But folks in the league office, together with Ja and his team and the Players Association, have been in regular contact, essentially weekly. There have been those checkpoints.
Silver stressed that Morant has met expectations during his suspension.
'We've, together, laid out a program for him over the last several weeks, and to the best of my knowledge, he's complied with everything he's been asked to do,' Silver said. 'As I said, we'll talk at least once this week before he comes back, and we will review the program and make sure the conditions are in place for him to be successful going forward.'
Ja Morant can expect a chat with Adam Silver (pictured) in the coming days
Morant (pictured), an NBA All-Star, is set to return from his second suspension for gun play
The earliest Morant could play is December 19, when the Grizzlies visit New Orleans. That game is the second half of a back-to-back and it isn't clear how quickly the Grizzlies will re-insert their franchise player back into the lineup.
Morant was suspended for 25 games after he was seen flashing a handgun in a video that was posted online. The video of Morant showing a gun while sitting in the passenger seat of a car was posted after he finished serving an eight-game suspension in March for another video in which he displayed a handgun in a Denver-area strip club.
Morant apologized in both instances.
Silver said Morant has 'complied with everything he's been asked to do' in the return-to-play program that was laid out by the league when the 25-game suspension was levied.
Meanwhile, Morant is facing accusations of assaulting a teenager during a pickup basketball game at the NBA star's house in July of 2022.
Morant's second firearm incident (pictured) resulted in a 25-game suspension for the All-Star
In November, a judge ruled that Morant's lawyers can argue that he was acting in self-defense as part of a lawsuit accusing him of assaulting a teenager.
Circuit Court Judge Carol Chumney scheduled the hearing for Monday, when lawyers for Morant and 18-year-old Joshua Holloway will discuss whether Morant is immune from liability under Tennessee law for hitting Holloway during a game at the All-Star player's Memphis-area home in July 2022.
Morant's lawyers have acknowledged he punched Holloway one time after Holloway threw a basketball at Morant and the ball hit Morant in the chin. In a July 26 motion, the player's lawyers said he should be immune from liability under the state's 'stand your ground' law, which allows people who feel threatened at their homes to act with force in certain situations.
The law is used in criminal cases, but Chumney's ruling clears the way for Morant's lawyers to apply it in the civil case and attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed.
Morant's accuser was 17 when the lawsuit was filed. It accuses Morant and friend Davonte Pack of assault, reckless endangerment, abuse or neglect, and infliction of emotional distress. An amended complaint identified the plaintiff as Holloway.
Morant filed a countersuit accusing Holloway of slander, battery and assault. No criminal charges have been filed against Morant. Pack has been charged with misdemeanor assault, and a hearing is set for November 21 in state criminal court.
The lawsuit has led to complicated legal arguments, including disagreement about whether the state's 'stand your ground' law can be used to support Morant.
The Grizzlies are currently 6-15 in 13th place in the Western conference.
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