Ja Morant has been slapped with a $75,000 fine from the NBA because of his recent gestures in a match. The fine stems from during his game against the Miami Heat, where the point guard made a gun gesture after draining a 3-pointer. However, this wasn’t the first time the gesture had been made this week.
On Tuesday, Morant made a similar gesture during a game against the Golden State Warriors. At that time, the league issued a formal warning, urging Morant to refrain from such conduct, calling the gesture, “inappropriate.” Yet, the star went on to ignore the warning resulting in the league taking stronger disciplinary action.
However, this decision hasn’t sat well with many fans, as they pointed out that several NBA players have made similar gestures in the past and didn’t face disciplinary action. Nevertheless, the league’s decision may have been influenced by Morant’s past off-court issues, particularly his suspension in 2023 for multiple incidents involving actual firearms.
In a post-game interview with ESPN on Thursday, where Ja Morant led the Grizzlies to a win against the Heat by making a buzzer-beater, the star opened up about the criticism he has to face. “I’m kind of used to it. I was pretty much a villain for two years now,” Morant said.“Every little thing, if somebody can say something negative about me, it’s going to be out there. So, yeah. I don’t care no more.” As of now, Morant has not issued a public response to the fine.
Ja Morant’s performance in the 2024-25 season
Ranked 6th in the Western Conference and 2nd in the Southwest Division, the Memphis Grizzlies have played 77 matches so far in the ongoing NBA season, out of which they have won 45 matches and lost only 32. Morant has played a central role in the team’s success by averaging 22.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game.
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After the team suffered four consecutive losses, Morant helped snap the streak on Thursday, delivering a clutch performance to secure the win. The Grizzlies will now face the Detroit Pistons on Saturday as they continue their push toward the playoffs. However, Morant’s repeated violations of league conduct could affect the Grizzlies’ momentum — especially if future actions lead to suspensions or further penalties.
Are Ja Morant’s actions being unfairly targeted, or was the $75,000 fine justified? Tell us what you think in the comments!
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