Ja Morant uses new grenade celebration after gun controversy

Ja Morant got in some hot water last week with the NBA over his recent finger gun celebrations. He used a new celebration on Tuesday night with what appeared to be a new pretend weapon. During the Grizzlies’ 124-100 win over the Hornets, Morant hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter before appearing to mimic the process of pulling a pin from a grenade before throwing it in the direction of the lower bowl at Spectrum Center. Morant then covered his ears as he went back to play defense. Last week, Morant used a finger gun celebration during a game and was then warned by the league over the gesture. Ja Morant is defended by Tidjane Salaun during the Grizzlies’ 124-120 win over the Hornets on April 8, 2025. Getty Images But later that week, Morant did a gun celebration again and was subsequently fined $75,000 by the NBA. “Morant was previously warned by the league office that this gesture could be interpreted in a negative light,” the league said in a statement. “I’m kind of used to it,” Morant said after Thursday’s win about being a “villain.” Ja Morant drives on KJ Simpson during the first half of the Grizzlies’ win over the Hornets. Getty Images “I was pretty much a villain for two years now. Every little thing, if somebody can say something negative about me, it’s going to be out there. So, yeah. I don’t care no more.” Morant was suspended twice in 2023, first for holding a gun on an Instagram Live stream outside of a strip club in Denver, which got him an eight-ban game. When he brandished a weapon during another video in May, he earned a 25-game suspension. Celebration or not, Morant had a big night on Tuesday with 28 points, eight assists and five rebounds in Memphis’ victory. Source link