NBA investigated confrontation involving Ja Morant’s acquaintances and Pacers traveling party members


Following a game between the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 29 in Memphis, acquaintances of Grizzlies star Ja Morant aggressively confronted members of the Pacers traveling party near the team’s bus in the loading area of FedExForum, and later someone in a slow-moving SUV — which Morant was riding in — trained a red laser on them. The two members of the traveling party who spoke to The Athletic said that they did not see who shined the laser from the SUV. They also don’t know if the laser was attached to a gun, but they believed it was. A Pacers security guard in the loading area at the time remarked: “That’s 100 percent a gun.”
Source: Sam Amick, Bob Kravitz, Bob Kravitz and Sam Amick @ The Athletic

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
With Curry out for the All-Star Game, expect Ja Morant to get bumped up to being a starter. He was third in fan (and player and media) voting. – 2:20 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
I’m guessing Ja Morant will be elevated to start the All-Star Game. He was third in fan voting and overall in the guard voting.
Who replaces Stephen Curry will be interesting. De’Aaron Fox? Anthony Edwards? Someone else? – 1:36 PM
Aaron Rose @AaronBenRose
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are both questionable for tonight. Steven Adams and Dillon Brooks are out for the Grizzlies. – 9:21 AM
Chris Herrington @ChrisHerrington
The Ja Morant era of Grizzlies contention might last a decade, or might not. But *this* iteration has a shorter window. Why the Grizzlies should look to be active at the trade deadline.
dailymemphian.com/section/sports…3:47 PM
Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Ja Morant and Tyus Jones shooting free throws with a couple of kids at the end of practice for Make-A-Wish.
Grizzlies also hooked them up with some new gear. pic.twitter.com/dMZ4ADwSRv3:19 PM

Ja Morant @JaMorant
🤔😂 – 7:01 PM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Stephen A. Smith said this morning that Dillon Brooks could potentially be costing the Grizz a title.
“Ja Morant deserves better, Taylor Jenkins deserves better, those teammates of yours deserve better. They doing their job. You need to do yours.”
Story: commercialappeal.com/story/sports/n…2:34 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
NBA Matchup data can definitely be funky. But according to that, #Cavs Isaac Okoro held Memphis All-Star Ja Morant to 6 points on 2 of 9 from the field. So add Morant to the list along with Jalen Brunson, Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, Trae Young that Okoro has stifled. – 1:20 PM
Ja Morant @JaMorant
allstarsauceee – 2:51 AM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Ja Morant basically does this in real life: pic.twitter.com/KPkOn5w4zc9:26 PM
Danny Cunningham @RealDCunningham
The good news for the #Cavs is that Ja Morant has four fouls.
The bad news for the Cavs is that the Grizzlies have outscored them 16-6 in the first 3:02 of the third quarter. Cavs lead now down to 73-70. – 9:09 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Most 20-point quarters this season:
5 — Luka Doncic
4 — Kyrie Irving
3 — Ja Morant, Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/e7Nyz5xvDa9:07 PM

Lang Whitaker @langwhitaker
If you tuned into TNT tonight to watch Ja Morant sit on the bench in foul trouble, these refs are ready for you! – 9:06 PM
Bob Finnan @BobCavsinsider
End 1st Q: Cavs 30, Grizzlies 26. Evan Mobley is in beast-mode with 9 points, 8 rebounds. Darius Garland has 14 points and 3 assists. Ja Morant 8 points for Memphis. – 8:25 PM
Memphis Grizzlies PR @GrizzliesPR
The NBA today announced that Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. were selected as reserves for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.
This marks the first time in franchise history that multiple @Memphis Grizzlies players were named All-Stars. pic.twitter.com/8kHJx8h3e98:23 PM

Danny Cunningham @RealDCunningham
#Cavs Darius Garland leads all scorers right now with 10 points in the first quarter. He’s also been tasked with being Ja Morant’s primary defender early on. Big challenge. – 8:04 PM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Alright, let’s get it out the way now 😂 If Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. aren’t on the same team and they have a meet-up at the rim, what happens next? – 7:39 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
For a first time in franchise’s history, the Memphis Grizzlies will represented by 2 players in the NBA All Star Game (Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson jr). JJJ will bi the 5th Grizzlies player who gonna participate in the NBA ASG. #BigMemphis #NBAAllStar7:31 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
For a first time in franchise’s history, the Memphis Grizzlies will represented by 2 players in the NBA All Star Game (Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson jr). JJJ will bi the 5ht Grizzlies player who gonna participate in the NBA ASG. #BigMemphis #NBAAllStar7:31 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
For a first time in franchise’s history, the Memphis Grizzlies will represented by 2 players in the NBA All Star Game (Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson jr). JJJ will bi the 5ht Rizzlies player who gonna participate in the NBA ASG. #BigMemphis #NBAAllStar7:30 PM
Mark Giannotto @mgiannotto
For the first time in franchise history, the Memphis Grizzlies have two players in the NBA All-Star game. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are both going this year.
commercialappeal.com/story/sports/n…7:24 PM
Mark Haynes @markhaynesnba
Western Conference All-Star reserves are Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lauri Markkanen, Domantas Sabonis, Paul George, and Jaren Jackson Jr. – 7:22 PM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
And here are the reserves for the Western Conference for the All-Star game:
Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lauri Markkanen, Domantas Sabonis, Paul George and Jaren Jackson Jr. – 7:22 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
2023 #NBAAllStar Game reserves
Eastern Conference
Joel Embiid
DeMar DeRozan
Jaylen Brown
Bam Adebayo
Jrue Holiday
Julius Randle
Tyrese Haliburton
Western Conference
Ja Morant
Domantas Sabonis
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Paul George
Damian Lillard
Lauri Markkanen
Jaren Jackson jr – 7:21 PM
Sarah Todd @NBASarah
All-Star reserves for the West:
– Ja Morant
– Domantas Sabonis
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
– Paul George
– Damian Lillard
– Lauri Markkanen
– Jaren Jackson Jr. – 7:21 PM
Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Western Conference All-Star reserves: Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lauri Markkanen, Domantas Sabonis, Paul George and Jaren Jackson Jr. – 7:20 PM
Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
The Western Conference #NBAAllStar reserve pool was just announced on @NBAonTNT: Ja Morant, Domontas Sabonis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Paul George, Damian Lillard, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. – 7:20 PM
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
2022-23 NBA West All-Star reserves: Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard, Jaren Jackson Jr., Domantas Sabonis, Lauri Markkanen, Paul George. – 7:20 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Western Conference All-Star Reserves:
Paul George
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Damian Lillard
Lauri Markkanen
Ja Morant
Domantas Sabonis – 7:20 PM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Only took Ja Morant four seasons to get two All-Star appearances. He’s one behind Marc Gasol for a tie of the franchise record.
Story: commercialappeal.com/story/sports/n…7:18 PM
Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Ja Morant is an NBA All-Star for the second straight season.
27.4 points, 8.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds per game for the 32-19 Grizzlies.
All-Star 12 headed to Utah. pic.twitter.com/CvLrrOkJ2z7:15 PM

Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Ja Morant has been named an NBA All-Star for the second consecutive season. That’s two appearances in four seasons for 12. – 7:15 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
Ja Morant vs. Donovan Mitchell.
The Grizzlies take on the Cavaliers in Cleveland tonight. Will both teams combine for over or under 222.5 points?
(Odds via @FDSportsbook) – 5:17 PM
NBA Math @NBA_Math
RPR MVP picks the Western Conference All-Star reserves:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Damian Lillard
Anthony Davis
Domantas Sabonis
Lauri Markkanen
Ja Morant
Anthony Edwards
Alternates
De’Aaron Fox, Devin Booker, Kawhi Leonard, Jerami Grant, Jamal Murray pic.twitter.com/Zn9VPnfou44:52 PM

More on this storyline

“We felt we were in grave danger,” one person who was present said. The two sources who spoke to The Athletic requested anonymity because they fear retribution from those who confronted them. They said they considered filing a report with police but decided against it for the same reason. The Pacers did alert the NBA, and league spokesperson Mike Bass told The Athletic that the league probed the matter. -via The Athletic / February 5, 2023
“While we substantiated that a postgame situation arose that was confrontational, based on interviews and other evidence gathered, we could not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon,” Bass said. “Certain individuals involved in the postgame situation and a related matter during the game that night have been subsequently banned from attending games in the arena. If additional information becomes available related to the postgame situation, the league office will conduct a further review.” -via The Athletic / February 5, 2023
Drew Hill: Ja Morant on potentially playing Jaren Jackson Jr. in the ASG: “I’m definitely setting up an action where we can meet each other at the rim. We’re going to see if I’m really him, or maybe if he’s him. Either I’m dunking on him or he’s blocking it. If I miss it don’t count” -via Twitter @DrewHill_DM / February 4, 2023





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