Judge: Grizzlies' Ja Morant Acted in Self-Defense in 2022 Altercation with Teenager

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant acted in self-defense when he punched a teenager during an altercation that stemmed from a pickup basketball game in 2022, per a Tennessee judge.

ESPN's Baxter Holmes cited a court filing and noted Shelby County Circuit Judge Carol Chumney ruled Monday that Morant was acting in self-defense when he punched then-17-year-old Joshua Holloway.

Holloway filed a lawsuit in September 2022 accusing Morant of assault, and the Grizzlies guard testified during a December 2023 civil immunity hearing that he only "swung first" in order "to protect myself" after the teenager allegedly threw the ball at Morant's face and stepped toward the NBA star.

Morant said that is when he punched Holloway, per Holmes.

Morant's friend, Davonte Pack, also punched Holloway and was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault. However, the charge against Pack was eventually dismissed.

With that as the backdrop, Chumney ruled Morant "enjoys a presumption of civil immunity" under the state's self-defense immunity statute. Chumney also said the burden of proof falls to Holloway's legal team to show it wasn't self-defense.

Holmes noted a trial that was scheduled to begin later this month is now expected to be continued at a later date.

This was just one incident for Morant, whom the NBA suspended for 25 games for conduct deemed detrimental to the league after video showed him holding a firearm. The 25-game suspension came after he was previously suspended for eight games after he was seen on video holding a firearm at a nightclub.

Morant did not make his season debut in 2023-24 until Dec. 19 as a result, and he played just nine games until he was lost for the rest of the campaign because of a shoulder injury.

It was a difficult blow for a Grizzlies team hoping to be a threat in the Western Conference playoff race.

Memphis is now just playing out the string for the rest of the season at 27-51, which is the third-worst record in the Western Conference.