Ja Morant suspended 25 games by NBA over gun video

The National Basketball Association announced Friday that Ja Morant has been suspended for 25 games after the Memphis Grizzlies star fired a gun on live video for the second time.

Morant’s suspension will take effect at the start of next season. The NBA said Morant would have to meet unspecified “conditions” before returning to the court and would not be able to participate in team or league activities, in addition to preseason games.

Morant, a 23-year-old NBA player, brandished a gun for the first time on a live broadcast from a nightclub in March, resulting in an eight-game suspension. He then displayed a firearm in a car with his friends during a second video broadcast last month.

“Ja Morant’s decision to use a firearm again on social media is troubling and troubling given his similar behavior in March, in which he had already suspended eight games,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Friday.

Silver added, “Basketball should take a back seat at this time. Before he returns to play, he will be required to formulate and implement a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that have led him to repeat this destructive behavior.”

in the current situation to ESPN On Friday, Morant apologized and promised it would “be better.” He said he would spend the break working on his mental health.

“I hope you will give me the opportunity to prove to you in time that I am a better man than I have been showing you,” said he.

Morant is approved by Nike. “We are delighted that Ja is taking accountability and prioritizing his well-being. We will continue to support him on and off the field,” the sportswear giant said in a statement on Friday.

It is also supported by coca cola‘s Powerade, but the beverage company has Ad pulled The NBA star shows up and kicks him off social media.

— CNBC’s Jessica Golden contributed to this report

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