The verdict is in.
Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant will reportedly receive a 25-game suspension after he was seen holding what appeared to be a firearm in a social media live stream on May 13, according to multiple outlets on Friday.
According to ESPN, Morant’s return will have to meet certain conditions.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a press conference before the start of the 2023 NBA Finals that he had “uncovered” more information around the incident, and that Morant’s punishment would be announced after the Nuggets-Heat series — which ended with Denver winning the first-ever championship in franchise history.
Morant was already suspended from all team activities after the gun incident — less than three months after he brandished a firearm in a separate live stream on March 4 at Shotgun Willie’s strip club in Glendale, Colo.
Earlier this month, Claudia Jordan said on “The Breakfast Club” reported that she heard from Morant’s camp that the weapon shown in the second gun video was a toy.
Silver addressed that claim a few days later on “The Dan Patrick Show,” and questioned if it should even matter whether the gun was real, as Morant previously served an eight-game suspension without pay for the first incident.
In early June, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he believed the 23-year-old would serve a “significant suspension,” and emphasized the severity of the situation due to Silver working with the players’ association to delegate a punishment.
Morant’s latest discipline also came after the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee sent police to his home for a welfare check on May 24, after Morant shared concerning messages on his Instagram Story, which were later deleted.
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told TMZ at the time that Morant “is fine” and that “he is taking a break from social media.”
The commissioner also confirmed that during the first incident Morant was waving an actual gun in a club while inebriated and live-streaming it.
Morant met with Silver in March and “fully owned it,” the commissioner told Patrick about the first incident.
Silver recalled the Grizzlies All-Star telling him during the meeting: “I made a terrible mistake and will learn from the mistake.”
Morant issued a public apology after the first incident, saying he takes “full accountability” for the situation.
He also attended a short counseling program in Florida before rejoining the Grizzlies.
Morant has not yet addressed his latest suspension.
The point guard signed a five-year rookie maximum extension with the Grizzlies in 2022 worth up to $231 million.