The NBA has banned several acquaintances of Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant from attending the team’s home games following a post-game incident last week.
According to a report from The Athletic, members of Morant’s group reportedly clashed with representatives of the Indiana Pacers travel party following the Grizzlies’ 112-100 win over Indiana in Memphis on January 29.
The report says a red laser coming from an SUV believed to be carrying Morant was aimed at Pacers players and coaches as they made their way to the team bus, and witnesses told NBA investigators they feared the laser was connected with a gun
A league spokesman said an investigation resulted in no evidence that any weapons were present, but confirmed to The Athletic that multiple people were banned from attending Grizzlies home games following the investigation.
“NBA security and league investigators conducted an investigation interviewing multiple eyewitnesses and reviewing video surveillance following allegations made by the Indiana Pacers organization regarding a postgame incident on January 29,” the league said in a statement.
“While we have established that a post-match situation arose that was acrimonious, based on interviews and other evidence gathered, we could not confirm that anyone threatened others with a weapon.
“Certain people involved in the post-game situation and related matters during the game that night were subsequently banned from attending games in the arena. If additional information becomes available regarding the post-game situation, the office will another review series.”
Morant, who was named to his second straight All-Star Game earlier this week, tweeted on Sunday that his brother had been banned from the FedEx Forum for a year as a result of the investigation. The standout guard did not receive any league discipline.
“Investigated [and] seen they were cappin,” Morant tweeted. “Yet let your article come out to paint this negative image of me and my family, and ban my brother from home games for a year. Unbelievable.”
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters before Sunday’s game against Toronto that the team has cooperated fully with the NBA’s investigation, though he did not comment on any specific details about the situation.
“That was addressed internally. We are aware of the investigation into the NBA,” he said. “They did a full investigation, we fully complied and I think they came out with a statement saying nothing was confirmed or found.
“That’s all I know and that’s all I’m going to comment on.”