Don’t think this is what the league had in mind when it told Ja Morant to stop pretending to shoot guns as a celebration…
I’m not an NBA guy but even I know about the legend of Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies point guard exploded onto the scene in 2020, winning Rookie of the Year, but right after that dominant season, he began getting in trouble off the court.
He was suspended once for making a social media post of him brandishing a firearm (no one tell Kristi Noem that’s unacceptable) and another time for some much more concerning reasons involving a gun, potential threats made with that gun, and potentially a laser sight that may or may not have been pointing out of an SUV he was riding in…
Long story short, the man seems to be a big supporter of the second amendment.
But actual guns aren’t why people have been talking about Ja of late.
Twice in just a few days, Ja made “gun gestures” on the court while celebrating a play. The first time the league let him off with a warning but the second time they weren’t going to let it slide.
Ja Morant in back to back games
He keep it on him lmaooo pic.twitter.com/l1uUSTuWEe
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) April 4, 2025
The NFL has been very public with their crackdown on firearm related celebrations (and aggressive nose sniffing but we’ll save that for another day) and the NBA has followed suit, especially with a player that has a, shall we say, checkered past with handguns.
The league leveed a $75,000 fine on Ja for his second gun related gesture.
BREAKING: The NBA has fined Ja Morant $75K for making “gun gestures” on the court twice, per @NBAPR pic.twitter.com/aK1a3qOGqn
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 4, 2025
To us normal people, that’s an astounding amount of money but he signed a 5-year, $197.2 million deal with the Grizzlies, averaging out to $39.4 million a year, so it’s nothing more than a drop in the bucket, but you think it would be enough that he would realize he’s got to figure out a different way to have some fun because the next fine might be even larger, or he may potential fine himself held off the court again.
Well, Ja Morant sure did find a new way to celebrate, but it’s way worse than firing off a few John Wayne style finger guns…
Last night, Ja drained a three to put the Griz up 92-70 against the Charlotte Hornets, and instead of just backpedaling down court or slapping a teammates hand, he unveiled the latest in weaponry celebrations.
He pretended to throw a grenade into the crowd…
Yes, a grenade… No more with that small arms nonsense, he went for the big boom…
Ja Morant threw a grenade into the crowd LMAOOO
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 9, 2025
I mean WHAT
How did this seem like even a remotely okay idea? You have to think this was pre-planned to some extent or maybe he was getting in some tactical training and instincts kicked in but my goodness man, you can’t do that after the league told you to holster your weapons! It’s insane but undeniably also downright hilarious.
The internet reactions are as good as you might imagine:
Ja Morant celebration package https://t.co/v2Xc73MepS pic.twitter.com/J2amFt3tVx
— 𝕵
(@JCF255) April 9, 2025
(@JCF255) Ja Morant switching to a grenade celebration after getting in trouble with the gun one
pic.twitter.com/kh1ihbL51D
— Sports Fights (@TheSportsBrawls) April 9, 2025
Ja Morant new 3 point celebration being throwing a grenade into the crowd is the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life
— The Hood Therapist (@OhhMar24) April 9, 2025
Adam Silver watching another Ja Morant celebration pic.twitter.com/5XjG9iy5dC
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) April 9, 2025
To be completely honest, I think this is all a bit over hyped. Athletes have been doing finger guns and the like since the beginning of time. In baseball, you literally say a player “gunned someone down” if they throw them out, does that mean we’re promoting the violent killing of innocent people? You’d be a moron to say so.
Comedian Dan Carney summed it up best with this post after Ja was fined last week:
I had no idea what a gun was until Ja Morant pretended to shoot somebody during a basketball game. Now I own an AK-47
— Dan Carney (@DanManCarney) April 4, 2025
Absolutely brilliant.
Now, on the other hand, Ja should probably cool it down so his team doesn’t lose him for a few games because let’s face it, guns and grenades aren’t exactly what professional sports leagues are trying to associate with their players.
But also, let the guys play. No one is going to see that and say “Oh yeah, let me go do some terrible stuff” and if they do they should already be on every FBI watch list that exists.
Have to give him at least some credit for not backing down, though I imagine we’ll be hearing from the NBA brass sooner rather than later about this one…
Can’t wait for Lockheed- Martin to start paying his fines like Nike did for Jordan https://t.co/we0pzI8QPb
— Ire (@irebricks) April 9, 2025
The post NBA Star Ja Morant Ditches Finger-Guns, Moves To Grenade Celebration first appeared on Whiskey Riff.