‘Completely Unwarranted’: NBA Criticised Over Probe into Player’s ‘Finger Guns’ Gesture

The NBA has initiated an inquiry into Memphis guard Ja Morant, who allegedly mimicked using a firearm towards the Golden State Warriors bench during a game on Wednesday.

This incident reportedly unfolded during a timeout with just 20 seconds left on the clock. The 25-year-old approached the opposing bench and created an imaginary gun with his hands, resulting in technical fouls being issued to both him and Warriors guard Buddy Hield, who is also under investigation.

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania referred to the occurrence as ‘finger gun gestures’.

Morant has faced two suspensions from the NBA for displaying a firearm on his social media accounts. In 2023, he received an eight-game suspension for showcasing a gun on a live Instagram broadcast while celebrating in Denver.

He subsequently faced a 25-game suspension at the start of the next season for a similar incident.

Taking to social media, Morant expressed his confusion regarding the situation.

He followed up his initial post with a second tweet, stating, “god bless y’all”.

In the win against Memphis, Warriors star Steph Curry scored an impressive 52 points.

It’s been a challenging few weeks for the Grizzlies, who recently parted ways with coach Taylor Jenkins just two weeks before the playoffs.

Outspoken NBA commentator Stephen A Smith has urged the league to reconsider its scrutiny of the point guard.

Currently, Morant and the Grizzlies are placed sixth in the Western Conference with a 44-32 record, caught in a tight race with several other teams as the regular season approaches its conclusion.

Memphis will head to Miami to take on the Heat on Friday, followed by a match against the Pistons in Detroit on Sunday.