With Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant sidelined indefinitely after a series of disturbing incidents, an NBA insider reiterated his concern for the 23-year-old’s well-being off the court.
During an appearance On a recent episode of the “Brian Windhorst and the Hoop Collective” podcastMark J. Spears said he thinks there is “a lot going on” regarding Morant, who is currently seeking counseling outside of Memphis.
“My prayers to him, that he understands this. There are things I’m hearing that I probably won’t say on this podcast, but I hope he’s taking care of himself,” Spears said.
“I’m not really worried about the basketball part for him right now. I am concerned about the human part, and that, when he comes back, he is mentally and physically healthy.
Spears also speculated that Morant may not play again this season.
“My guess right now is not that you’d bet on it, it’s that he won’t play the rest of the season because he takes care of himself,” Spears said.
Morant was suspended for two games earlier this month after he was seen flashing a gun on Instagram Live at a strip club in Colorado.
Morant released a statement in the wake of the incident, explaining how he takes “full responsibility” for his actions.
“I apologize to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down,” Morant said.
“I’m going to take some time to get help and learn better ways to deal with stress and work on my overall well-being.”
Morant is also accused of threatening a mall security guard and allegedly punching a teenager in the head during a pickup game at his home. The Washington Post previously reported.
on Monday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim McMahon reported that Morant had “enrolled in a counseling program in Florida,” and that there is no timeline regarding a potential return.
The Grizzlies are currently in second place in the Western Conference with a 41-26 record.
Their final game of the regular season is against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 9.
