The NBA is investigating Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant’s gun-like motion toward the Golden State bench during their game Tuesday night, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.
Morant could be seen throughout Tuesday’s game making a gun gesture in apparent celebration after making his five 3s, pointed either toward the nearest defender or his father, Tee Morant, on the sideline.
Late in the game, as the Warriors were wrapping up a 134-125 win, Buddy Hield appeared to make Morant’s apparent gun gesture back toward him in a taunting fashion as the teams split for a timeout. Morant spotted it and sent the gesture back toward the Warriors bench as the sides got in a verbal back-and-forth. Morant eventually broke for his huddle, calling Hield a “dumbass” as he turned away, and both Morant and Hield were given technical fouls. The NBA is also investigating the actions of Hield.
Ja Morant appeared to make a gun gesture at the Warriors’ bench late in the game 🤨 pic.twitter.com/fTvFA0wpit
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 2, 2025
Morant has made similar gestures in other games as a 3-point celebration, and it’s certainly not unique to the Grizzlies star, as players frequently make shooting motions after hitting big shots. But the optics surrounding Morant are undeniably different because of his past.
Morant’s first gun-related incident took place in early March of 2023, when he could be seen brandishing a gun on Instagram live while at a strip club in Glendale, Co. (he was suspended eight games for that incident). A month prior, the NBA had investigated a Memphis incident in which Indiana Pacers players and staff members claimed they had red laser pointers — which they feared came from a gun — aimed in their direction by Morant’s acquaintances after a game. No discipline resulted from that incident.
A similar situation took place the following May, when Morant could be seen holding a handgun while riding in the car of his longtime friend, Davonte Pack, on IG Live. The league suspended him for 25 games.
The NBA does not have a rule against specific gestures, though taunting is considered unsportsmanlike and can result in a technical foul at a referee’s discretion. The NBA has fined players for making gun-related gestures in the past, however. In 2017, Josh Jackson was fined $35,000 for making a gesture toward a fan that appeared to mimic pulling a trigger. And Miami’s Gerald Green was docked $25,000 for making a similar gesture in 2015.
Meanwhile, the NFL and NCAA cracked down on “finger gun” gestures this past football season. Multiple NFL players drew penalties and fines for the gesture in the fall, and in college football, the gesture results in an automatic unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Memphis, which fired head coach Taylor Jenkins on Friday and elevated assistant coach Tuomos Iisalo to the position, has now lost seven of its last eight games (the Grizzlies are 0-3 under Iisalo) while falling to sixth in the West. The Warriors, who are now 19-4 in games in which Jimmy Butler has played since landing him from Miami at the trade deadline, are now in fifth place.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Brandon Dill / The Associated Press)
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