
On Friday, the National Basketball Association penalized Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. Again. The league gave him a 25-game suspension to start the 2023 season after a second video showed him flashing a gun. Some will criticize what seems to be a lenient approach by the NBA, but the league may be on the right track.
Morant previously drew an eight-game suspension in March for brandishing a gun in another Instagram Live video. Much ado ensued about remorse, growth, and discipline. A lot hinges on whether Morant is a bad dude, or a good guy who made a mistake. An overreaction by the league could hurt Morant’s team and make matters worse for Morant himself. Being too lenient could send the wrong message during a time of gun culture concerns for the league.