Ja Morant, Buddy Hield Reportedly Issued Warnings by NBA After Finger Gun Gestures

The NBA warned Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield for their hand gestures in Golden State's 134-125 win over Memphis on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Morant and Hield both seemingly mimicked firing a gun toward one another during a stoppage in play.

Charania reported the league deemed the gestures "were not intended to be violent in nature" but still inappropriate.

Morant and Hield each received a technical foul.

The moment might have gone largely unnoticed were it not for Morant's past indiscretions.

The two-time All-Star received an eight-game suspension in March 2023 after he appeared to be holding a handgun at a nightclub in a video he posted to Instagram Live. He subsequently received a 25-game suspension that June for a similar infraction.

A suspension for Morant or Hield, even for one game, would've been costly for their respective teams given how little is left in the regular season.

The Warriors have seven games left on their schedule, while the Grizzlies have just six. Only a half-game separates fifth-place Golden State from Memphis in eighth place as well.