Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was seen displaying a gun at a nightclub on his Instagram live feed early Saturday morning.
“We are aware of a social media post involving Ja Morant and are investigating,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said on Saturday.
Morant, 23, already had been trending on social media following a Washington Post report this week that linked him to an alleged fight with a 17-year-old and alleged threats against a mall security guard.
Charges were not brought in either of those separate incidents last summer, according to Shelby County (Tenn.) police records obtained by the Post.
In the first incident, the Post reported that a 17-year-old claimed to have been punched at least 12 times by Morant during a pick-up game at Morant’s house in Eads, Tenn., on July 26. The punches left a “large knot” that was visible to officers.
It began when the two got into a verbal altercation that became heated, resulting in the teen hitting Morant in the face with the basketball, something the teen claimed was accidental.
The teen told police that Morant emerged from his house with his hand on a gun visible on his waistband.
Morant told police that he punched the teen but that the latter was the aggressor, per the Post report. Morant filed his own police report weeks later, per the Post.
A Shelby County district attorney’s spokesman told the Post that there was “not enough evidence” to bring charges on either Morant or the teen.
In the second incident, a mall security guard claimed to have been pushed in the head by members of Morant’s entourage in the parking lot after asking them to leave, per the Post report.
That incident began when Morant’s mother got into a dispute with a store employee inside the mall, per the report. She called Morant, who then showed up with as many as nine friends.
Morant said, “Let me find out what time he gets off,” per the Post, citing the police report. The guard filed the report, saying he felt threatened.
Morant is averaging 27.1 points, 8.2 assists and 6.0 rebounds in 53 games (all starts) this season. He was named to his second straight All-Star Game.
–Field Level Media