Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is once again at the center of controversy, as the NBA has launched an investigation into a gesture he made during Tuesday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors. With less than 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies’ 134-125 loss, Morant appeared to make a finger-gun motion toward the Warriors’ bench. The action immediately drew reactions from Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. The NBA is also reviewing a similar gesture made by Golden State’s Buddy Hield, who directed a finger-gun motion at Morant earlier in the game. Both players were assessed technical fouls on the spot.

The NBA is investigating Ja Morant’s hand gun gesture

It was not the first time Ja Morant faced punishment for the same, it was also not the second. The 24-year-old guard has already served two suspensions for flashing a gun on social media— an eight-game suspension in March 2023 after a nightclub incident in Colorado and a 25-game suspension later that year for a similar offense.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst weighed in on the situation, linking it to broader concerns about Morant’s standing with the Grizzlies. "Look, there has been noise about Ja being unhappy all season long," Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective Podcast. "There has been noise about, ‘Hey, could Memphis look to move Ja this summer? Could Ja look to get out of Memphis this summer? Could Ja look to force a trade, or at least request a trade?’” Windhorst suggested that the recent firing of head coach Taylor Jenkins may have been a strategic move to keep Morant satisfied in Memphis, as the franchise works to retain its star player amid ongoing speculation about his future.

The Grizzlies are clinging to the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoff race. Morant’s return from injury had been a much-needed boost, but another suspension could severely impact the team’s postseason hopes.

Fox Sports analysts Mike Harmon and Aaron Torres also discussed the situation. "A guy who's been in trouble with the league before, and well, I got a feeling we’re not going to see him on the court for the rest of the regular season and probably the postseason. And that’s Ja Morant," Harmon said. "I’m always happy to give a guy a second chance if it’s nothing violent or criminal, but this guy just has none of it."

The league has broad discretion in handling disciplinary matters, as outlined in its constitution, which grants Commissioner Adam Silver the authority to impose fines or suspensions for actions deemed "prejudicial to or against the best interests of the Association."

As for Morant’s response after the news of the investigation, he took to X to share his thoughts on the matter, “ja this .. ja that .. 😂,” he wrote laughing off the whole ordeal.

While the NBA has yet to announce a final decision, this latest controversy adds to the growing concern over Morant’s ability to mature and avoid self-inflicted setbacks. With his talent undeniable but his judgment repeatedly called into question, the Grizzlies and the NBA face yet another difficult decision regarding his future.