As the United States grapples with the very American problem of rampant gun violence, gun safety has reached the NBA through one of its brightest young stars, Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, who has been was given a 25-match ban on Friday after recklessly waving his hand. a gun around in a second social media video.
Morant, 23 years old, is a small but electrified spot protection with one of the most popular jerseys in the NBA and 12.5 million followers on Twitter and Instagram. But against a backdrop of frequent mass shootings, and as he played in a city struggling with gun violence, Morant used his growing sphere of influence to model behavior. vi which even you admit is harmful.
For years, the image-conscious NBA has struggled to be seen as progressive, especially on the subject of gun violence. Many coaches and stars, like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, spoke out about gun safety. The Golden State Warriors, the champions last season, met with officials at the White House to discuss the matter in January. While it doesn’t appear Morant broke any of the league’s gun rules with his videos – he didn’t bring a gun into the locker room, as two players were suspended for this behavior. 2010 – his carelessness threatened to undermine the league’s efforts.
“The potential for other young people to imitate Ja’s behavior is particularly concerning,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. He added that the suspension period – about a third of the season – was intended to show that “engaging in reckless and irresponsible conduct with guns will not be tolerated.”
Tamika Tremaglio, executive director of the NBA players union, said in a statement Friday that Morant had shown remorse and that the punishment was “excessive and inappropriate.” She added that the union will “explore all options and next steps with Ja.” The NBA said it suspended Morant for conduct detrimental to the league.
In early March, the NBA suspended Morant for eight games after he livestreamed a video on Instagram of him laughing and brandishing a gun in a nightclub near Denver after a game. Morant Sorry and said he enrolled in a medical facility in Florida to better manage stress. Then, on May 13, one of Morant’s friends streamed a video of him swinging a gun while driving. The Grizzlies suspended him indefinitely and Silver told ESPN he was “shocked”.
Kris Brown, president of Brady, a nonprofit that works to reduce gun violence, said she found it “right” for the NBA to take action against Morant.
“Guns can be a tool in some situations, but they can also kill, maim and injure others if not handled and stored properly,” Brown said. She added: “Public figures have a responsibility to take responsibility for how they engage with these kinds of vital issues. It is not a small thing. People can die if they use guns so carelessly, and they still do it every day.”
In 2015, the NBA worked with Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun safety advocacy group, to create ads with star players and shooting survivors discussing gun violence. The ads were timed to air in the league’s list of Christmas Day games.
Last May, after 19 students and two teachers was killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, NBA teams in the knockout stages displayed notices at their arenas asking fans to urge their political representatives they passed “common sense” gun safety legislation.
But even as the NBA has adopted a ostensibly progressive stance on gun safety, their comments are still inconsistent with the actions of some of their team owners. Among others, Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, Knicks’ James Dolan, and the DeVos family, Orlando Magic owners, have all donated to prominent Republican politicians who oppose the events. tighter gun restrictions.
The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union prohibits players from carrying guns in any facility operated by the league or team, including team aircraft.
The most significant gun-related suspension occurred in 2010, after Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, who plays for the Washington Wizards, threatened each other with guns in the team’s locker room. (The arena has say he’s joking.) Arenas was given a 50-match ban, 12 more than Crittenton, because he made light of the situation with a gun gesture during a match while the incident was being investigated.
“I think it influenced – I don’t even want to say legacy – my name,” Arenas told The New York Times. last month. “It affects it really badly. I said it back then, where the most disappointing part was that I got 100 things right. I did one thing wrong and that’s all people remember. That’s what really hurts the most.”
Other gun-related incidents have been subject to much lighter penalties. Raymond Felton was banned for 4 games in 2014 after pleading guilty gun possession crime. In 2007, Stephen Jackson was seven-match suspension after he pleaded guilty to felony recklessness. Months ago, he opened fire outside the strip club in Indianapolis.
Tremaglio, the union’s chief executive, said in Friday’s statement that Morant’s punishment was “unfair and consistent with past discipline.” In addition to the 25-game suspension, Morant will have to meet a number of unspecified conditions and, Silver said, “build and complete a program with the league that addresses directly the circumstances that cause him to repeat himself. this act of vandalism.”
The NBA has been investigating the second video since mid-May but has delayed announcing the results until after the NBA finals. The Denver Nuggets won their first championship on Monday by beating the Miami Heat in five games. Morant’s Grizzlies were eliminated from the knockout stages at the end of April.
Ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, Silver said it would be “unfair” for the Nuggets and Heat to release Morant results while they were still playing.
There’s also a business reason to wait: The NBA Finals are like a commercial for the league because they’re the clash of two convention champions.
“You don’t want it to be the final story,” said Lawrence Parnell, director of the strategic public relations program at George Washington University. He added, “It’s all about shaping the narrative about the player and about the game, not about someone who isn’t even there.”
Contrast with this week at US Open tennis tournamentwhere much of the conversation revolved around the Saudi-backed PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger pending and heavily criticized.
But Morant is not easily forgotten, and neither is gun safety.
Morant’s dynamic play makes him a fixture on featured shows, and he’s led the Grizzlies to the knockout stages three times. Morant will enter his fifth season, having already had two All-Star teams. This spring, Nike released its first signature sneakers – often the emblem of a true NBA star.
For now, Nike seems to be on his side, just like when he faced loads of criticism after the first video.
Nike said in a statement on Friday: “We are pleased that Ja is taking responsibility and prioritizing his health. “We will continue to support him on and off the field.”
Morant appeared to be aware of his celebrity background as he apologized in a statement Friday.
“Dear children who admire me, I apologize for not setting an example for you,” he said. “I promise I will get better. For all my sponsors, I will become a better representative of our brands. And to all my fans, I promise to make it up to you.”
Powerade, which announced Morant as a new endorser in March, did not respond to a request for comment about his suspension.
The Grizzlies said in a statement that they respect the NBA’s decision to suspend Morant. “Our standards as a league and team are clear and we expect that all team staff will adhere to them,” the team said.
Morant, in his apology, asked for a chance to prove that “I am a better man than I have shown you.” But it can be difficult.
“I think there’s an opportunity to have a positive story out of this for the league and for Ja Morant,” Parnell said. “But going to counseling and doing one little thing won’t make any difference to his reputation.”
