Grizzlies' Ja Morant Files Countersuit Against Teen, Says Career Could've Been Ended

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has filed a countersuit against Joshua Holloway, according to Drew Hill of the Daily Memphian.

Morant is alleging he could've suffered a career-ending injury when Holloway threw a basketball at his face during a pickup game. His representatives are also alleging the teenager "lied to the police about Morant brandishing a weapon and that the key details of the once-sealed case were leaked to the media in violation of a court order," per Hill.

The Washington Post's Molly Hensley-Clancy first reported on March 1 that Holloway filed a police report about an incident at Morant's home last July. He said Morant and a friend punched him during a pickup game, with Morant telling police he acted in self-defense because Holloway had thrown the ball at his head.

Holloway also alleged that after he left Morant's home, the two-time All-Star came outside and had a gun visible in his waistband.

Hensley-Clancy and Washington Post colleague Gus Garcia-Roberts provided more detail in a follow-up story focusing on both the incident and the response of police and prosecutors.

Holloway told the reporters Morant grew angry when the teenager checked the ball and hit the star guard in the face.

The 17-year-old said he was struck multiple times and told authorities Morant alone "hit me like 12 to 13 times." Police at the scene made note of a "large knot" on the side of Holloway's head in their report.

Holloway filed a civil lawsuit against Morant and Davonte Pack in September.

In the countersuit, Morant's attorneys said Holloway "balled up his fists and walked aggressively toward Mr. Morant as if to attack him."

They also alleged Holloway made threats to return and "light" the house up, a remark he didn't recall making when interviewed by Hensley-Clancy and Garcia-Roberts.

The countersuit also alludes to how Morant's on-court career has been impacted by what has transpired off the court and could be impacted further. Hill noted "attorneys are asking for unspecified compensatory damages and argue that the media attention that the case has received has cost Morant in his potential career earnings."

They argue that could jeopardize Morant's chances of making an All-NBA team, which would be the difference between his extension with the Grizzlies totaling $194.3 million or $233.2 million.

In a separate incident, the NBA suspended the 23-year-old in March for eight games without pay after he shared a video on social media in which he appeared to be holding a handgun. Days before the punishment came down, he took a leave of absence and briefly sought counseling.