Ja Morant’s finger guns backfire: NBA slaps star with $75,000 fine as Memphis Grizzlies’ playoff hopes hang in balance

The Memphis Grizzlies are fighting to stabilize their playoff position, but Ja Morant’s recurring gun gestures have brought unwanted attention back to the franchise. Despite a recent NBA warning, Morant repeated the controversial celebration during Thursday’s win over the Miami Heat, raising questions about potential discipline. During the early minutes of the Grizzlies’ victory against the Heat, Morant made a finger-gun motion after sinking a three-pointer. This came just one day after the NBA issued warnings to both Morant and Buddy Hield for exchanging similar gestures during a game between the Grizzlies and Warriors. Unlike the previous incident, Morant’s latest gesture wasn’t directed at any specific player. However, given his history, the league may still take action. - Morant and Hield were warned by the NBA on April 1 for mutual gun gestures. - The Grizzlies star repeated the celebration unprompted on April 3. Morant’s past suspensions complicate the situation but the history won’t be repeated. According recent report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the NBA has fined Ja Morant $75,000 for his finger gestures. The league has viewed this as a repeated violation, especially after his 25-game suspension in 2023 for flashing a gun on social media. - Morant’s history of firearm-related incidents. - Whether the gesture was directed at an opponent. - Previous warnings issued by the league. The Grizzlies, already dealing with the fallout of firing coach Taylor Jenkins, would prefer their star player avoids further controversy as they push for playoff seeding. Among all the scrutiny over his gestures, Morant delivered a clutch performance against the Heat. His game-winning shot lifted Memphis from the 8th to the 6th seed in the Western Conference—a much-needed boost after a recent slump. Notably, this was Morant’s second career buzzer-beater. The first came on the day he returned from his 2023 suspension, adding another layer of irony to his ongoing saga. Morant’s history with gun-related incidents has been a recurring issue. Below is a breakdown of key events: Also read: Anthony Edwards suffers ankle scare in Minnesota Timberwolves- Brooklyn Nets game – playoff hopes in jeopardy? Morant’s repeated behavior has made the league take a strict stance. For Memphis, the focus is on securing a playoff spot—but their star player’s actions continue to overshadow their on-court efforts. As the regular season winds down, all eyes will be on whether Morant can avoid further controversy and lead his team deep into the postseason.