The price for posting a video of himself pulling out a gun on social media is high.
“Memphis Grizzlies star Pau Gasol has been suspended 25 games for conduct detrimental to the league,” the NBA announced on Sunday. Morant’s suspension begins immediately. He will miss the first 25 games of the 2023-2024 season and will be ineligible for team activities, including preseason, during his suspension.
Morant was suspended for eight games in March after posting a video on social media of himself pulling a gun at a club in Denver. In May, he was suspended again, this time for showing a gun on social media live.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “I am concerned about the potential for other young people to emulate Morant’s behavior. I believe a 25-game suspension is appropriate. Irresponsible behavior with a gun will never be tolerated.”
“I have taken time to reflect and realize how much I have hurt,” Morant said. I apologize to the NBA, the Memphis Grizzlies, my teammates, and the city of Memphis. I will train to be ready to play when I can get back on the court. I hope they give me the opportunity to prove that I am a better person than I have shown so far.”
However, the National Basketball Players Association protested in a statement, calling the suspension “excessive.”메이저사이트
Morant is one of the NBA’s rising stars. He won Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 and has been named an All-Star twice in his first four seasons. In the 2022-2023 season, he averaged 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 8.1 assists. Memphis also won the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference behind Morant.
In addition to the 25-game suspension, Morant lost $7.5 million, according to the NBA. Morant’s annual salary is $33.5 million. Under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, NBA players earn 110ths of their salary for each game they play.