Grizzlies' Ja Morant to Be Investigated by Police for Video Appearing to Show Gun

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant has already received a suspension for dancing in a Denver nightclub while holding what appeared to be a handgun, but he could face legal ramifications as well.

According to 9News, Colorado police on Monday were "investigating Morant's actions and whether he may have broken any laws."

The video posted to Instagram Live from Morant's account late Friday night reportedly is "believed to have been filmed in Glendale, a small enclave surrounded by Denver and known for its strip clubs and shopping centers." While Capt. Jamie Dillon said police did not receive any calls or complaints about Morant, they started looking into the matter on Saturday "after learning about the video circulating online."

The Grizzlies announced Saturday that Morant will be away from the team for at least the next two games, and the video is also under investigation by the NBA. Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins indicated on Sunday that Morant's absence could be longer, telling reporters "there's no definitive timeline" for his return. The team went on to lose to the Los Angeles Clippers in its first game without the two-time All-Star.

Morant apologized for his actions in a statement, saying he plans to "get help and work on learning better methods for dealing with stress and my overall well-being."

The 23-year-old has been in the news for his off-court actions recently, as two police reports involving Morant from summer 2022 were made public last week by Molly Hensley-Clancy and Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. In one, he was accused of assaulting and later flashing a gun at a 17-year-old during a pickup basketball game. Four days earlier, a mall security guard told police Morant threatened him.

Jenkins didn't say what steps Morant has to take to rejoin the team, instead stressing that the youngster needs time away to learn from this situation.

"He's definitely embracing the mistakes that he's made, but only time will tell," Jenkins said. "We're going to support him and we're going to hold him accountable to make those changes."