Nike has issued a statement regarding Ja Morant’s suspension.
The 23-year-old was suspended for 25 games by the NBA after he was featured on Instagram Live holding what looked to be a 'gun' for the second time. He will need to meet conditions laid out by the NBA before being able to return to action for the Memphis Grizzlies, including being unable to take part in any league or team activities during his suspension.
Morant signed a deal with Nike when he was drafted by the Grizzlies in 2019 and reportedly earns $12.1 million for an undisclosed number of years. Nike continue to support him and wished him well during his time away from the court. “We are pleased that Ja is taking accountability and prioritizing his well-being,” the company said. “We will continue to support him on and off the court.”
An ESPN insider has since released the figures concerning how much money Morant will lose during his time on the sidelines. Missing 25 games is set to cost him $7.6m and approximately $304,545 per game, all while entering the first year of his $194m rookie max contract extension that he signed last July.
Following the news of his suspension, Morant released a statement in which he issued an apology to everyone affected by his actions. "I've had time to reflect and I realize how much hurt I've caused. I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies and the city of Memphis," he began.
"To Adam Silver, Zach Klieman and Robert Pera - who gave me the opportunity to become a professional athlete and have supported me - I'm sorry for the harm I've done. To all the kids who look up to me, I'm sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I'm going to be better."
Following his first suspension after a similar incident which was filmed on Instagram Live while in a Denver club, Morant underwent a brief counseling program before returning to the Grizzlies in time for the playoffs in April. In his latest statement, he vowed to continue to work on his own wellbeing. "I'm spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision-making," Morant added.
"I'm also going to be training so that I'm ready to go when I can be back on the court. I know my teammates are going to hold it down and I'm so sorry I won't be out there with you at the beginning of the season. I hope you'll give me the chance to prove to you over time I'm a better man than what I've been showing you."
In a statement released by the NBA, commissioner Adam Silver said: "Ja Morant's decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games. The potential for other young people to emulate Ja's conduct is particularly concerning.
"Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated." He added: "For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time. Prior to his return to play, he will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior."
