The NBA on Friday fined Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant $75,000 for ‘twice making an inappropriate gesture on the playing court.’
NBA executive vice president/head of basketball operations Joe Dumars announced the fine.
‘Morant was previously warned by the league office that this gesture could be interpreted in a negative light,’ the league’s statement said.
The league on Wednesday had warned Morant, the Grizzlies, Golden State and Warriors guard Buddy Hield to refrain from making a gesture that resembles shooting a gun after Morant and Hield made the gesture during Golden State’s victory over Memphis Tuesday.
The league refrained from issuing a penalty after talking to both teams and the players, who were told the gesture was inappropriate and urged not to make those gestures moving forward. The players and teams involved said they were not making violent gestures.
The Grizzlies have been doing that gesture – and a similar gesture – as a celebration all season, and other players make similar gestures, especially after making a 3-point shot.
However, Morant repeated the gesture in Memphis’ victory over the Miami Heat Thursday.
‘I’m kind of used to it,’ Morant said after Thursday’s game. ‘I was pretty much a villain for two years now. Every little thing, if somebody can say something negative about me, it’s going to be out there. So, yeah. I don’t care no more.’
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