


Jets star cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner appeared to speak out Sunday after embattled Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant seemingly brandished a gun in a social media video.
In a since-deleted message, the 22-year-old Gardner — who is entering his second season with the Jets — allegedly wrote, “Everybody have guns bro. No need to post it on IG live lol.”
The tweet, according to a screengrab, was posted hours after Morant appeared to hold a firearm in an Instagram Live video that surfaced late Saturday night.
This is the second time in less than three months that Morant, 23, seemingly flashed a weapon on social media.
On March 4, he was seen with a gun in an Instagram Live video in a Denver-area strip club and was subsequently suspended for eight games.
The Grizzlies have since barred Morant from all team activities, the organization announced Sunday in a statement.
“We are aware of the social media video involving Ja Morant,” the Grizzlies said in a statement.
“He is suspended from all team activities pending League review. We have no further comment at this time.”
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday that Morant could face greater discipline this time around following this weekend’s incident.
“Ja Morant is facing the very real possibility of a lengthy suspension to start next season,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown.”
“I sense already today that [commissioner] Adam Silver is going to feel increasing pressure from other teams in the league who see this as much as it impacts the Grizzlies. It impacts their ability to market their players.”
Warning: Graphic language
Wojnarowski added the league is “investigating and making sure that this was a legitimate video and it was not doctored in some way.”
“I think there is a real possibility if that is what it appeared to be, a weapon in Ja Morant’s hand, he again will likely face a significant suspension to start next season,” he said.
New York Post Renaissance Man columnist and NBA analyst Jalen Rose speculated Morant could be hit with a 20-25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 season.
The NBA issued its own statement on the matter Sunday.
“We are aware of the social media post involving Ja Morant and are in the process of gathering more information,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said.
Morant attended a short counseling program in Florida during his eight-suspension earlier this spring.
He returned to the Grizzlies in mid-March.