NBA

Grizzlies’ Ja Morant out indefinitely after entering counseling program

It remains unclear when Ja Morant will return to play.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon reported Monday that the Grizzlies superstar has “entered a counseling program in Florida” and that there is no current timetable as to when he will return to the team.

Morant has missed Memphis’ past four games after a series of off-court incidents mounted.

Last week, the Washington Post published an extensive story about several investigations in which Morant was the subject of.

The story revealed there was a police report filed after a mall security guard accused Morant of threatening him, and an associate of Morant of pushing him.

In a separate altercation, Morant swung multiple times at a Memphis-area high school basketball prospect after an incident in a pickup game at Morant’s home.

The teen accused Morant of entering his home and exiting with a gun visible in his waist band.

Ja Morant has entered a counseling program in Florida, according to ESPN.
Ja Morant has entered a counseling program in Florida, according to ESPN. NBAE via Getty Images

Morant claimed self-defense in the incident, as the teen threw a basketball at his face, denied brandishing a weapon and accused the teen of threatening gun violence.

No charges were filed in either the mall or pickup game incident.

Days after the Washington Post story published, Morant went on Instagram Live and posted a video in which he seemingly flashed a gun in a strip club.

Ja Morant went on IG Live from a strip club in Colorado last weekend.
Ja Morant went on Instagram Live from a strip club in Colorado last weekend. Twitter DJ Akademiks @Akademiks

“I take full responsibility for my actions last night,” Morant said in a statement following the strip club video going viral. “I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down.”

The Post exclusively obtained photos of Morant’s two-day, $50,000 trip to the strip club — Shotgun Willie’s in Glendale, Colo. — in which the All-Star covered the room in cash while receiving lap dances, ordering bottle service and food.

“The whole room is full of money — it’s literally a pile. You’d need a rake,” a club insider who witnessed the scene told The Post.

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Ja Morant getting a lap dance.
The basketball superstar enjoyed a VIP experience at the jiggle joint.
The room was covered in cash while Morant ordered bottle service, food and lap dances.NY Post
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A sign for the strip club Shotgun Willie's in Glendale, CO, featuring a colorful gun
Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant flashed a gun at the strip club Shotgun Willie’s in Glendale, CO.Twitter @ShotgunWillies
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There was also an incident earlier this season in which members of the Pacers claimed Morant’s associates pointed a red laser at them following a confrontation.

An NBA investigation could not “corroborate” that guns were involved in the Pacers incident.

Last week, TMZ reported that Morant was also investigated in another incident after he was involved in confronting a teen with whom his younger sister had a dispute at a high school volleyball game; no charges were filed in the incident.

The Grizzlies have been coy about when Morant will be back, and the NBA has said there is an ongoing investigation.

The team initially said he would be out for at least two games, and then added another four to the team-imposed suspension.

“There are a lot of internal dialogues going on and obviously there’s still things going on at the league level that we’re in communication with,” Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters on Monday in response to a question as to whether Morant will return after the four-game allotment.

“Ja’s fully engaged in this process and ready for whatever comes next after these two games.”