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Ja Morant gave his first interview after a video of him surfaced brandishing a gun inside a Colorado nightclub, which led to him being suspended by the Memphis Grizzlies. Sitting down with ESPN’s Jalen Rose, the basketball superstar expressed regret over his decisions and promises to deliver a better image going forward.
Ja Morant, 23, is one of the young faces of the league and clearly is a draw no matter what arena he’s playing in. His electrifying style of play and passion on the court became coupled with troubling allegations of violence and negative actions over the past year. Ahead of the interview, Rose, himself a product of humble beginnings during his rise in the NBA, issued a stern but brotherly warning to Morant.
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“Honestly, I feel like we put ourselves in that situation with our past mistakes, and now it’s only right that we focus in and lock in on being smarter and more responsible, holding each other accountable for everything,” Morant said Wednesday during an interview with ESPN’s Jalen Rose, referring to his inner circle. “I feel like in the past we didn’t know what was at stake. And now finally me having that time to realize everything, have that time alone, I realize that now.
“I realize what I have to lose, and for us as a group, what we have to lose. It’s pretty much just that being more responsible, more smarter and staying away from all the bad decisions.”
Good on Ja Morant for realizing his mistakes and being willing to grow from them.
Morant will return to the Grizzlies at the conclusion of his eight-game suspension handed down from the NBA.
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Police in Colorado have stated that Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant will not face criminal charges over flashing a gun in a social media video last weekend.
On Wednesday afternoon (March 8), the Glendale, Colorado Police Department announced that after finishing their investigation into Ja Morant after being alerted to an Instagram Live video he streamed showing him flashing a firearm while in Shotgun Willie’s strip club, that they would not file charges.
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“GPD was not able to determine that probable cause existed for the filing of any charges,” the press release partially stated. “In this case, it should be noted that on the night in question, the GPD did not receive any calls for service at the nightclub regarding a weapon of any type. Subsequently, no disturbances were reported, and no citizens or patrons of the club came forward to make a complaint. The investigation also concluded that no one was threatened or menaced with the firearm and in fact, no firearm was ever located.”
Morant was spotted on his Instagram Live flashing the weapon while in the club early Saturday morning (March 5) hours after his Grizzlies team lost to the hometown Nuggets. The club is five miles from Denver’s home stadium Ball Arena. After the footage was released, the Grizzlies announced that the 23-year-old would not be available for the team’s next two games against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers. So far, the team has stated publicly that he is to miss the team’s next four games at least.
Morant deactivated his Twitter and Instagram accounts that Saturday as the news spread and issued a statement saying he was stepping away. ”I’m going to take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being,” he said.
The trouble may not be over for Ja Morant, as the NBA has been investigating the incident in addition to others he’s been involved in. In addition, while Nike issued a statement of support for the two-time All-Star, Powerade has taken steps to take down its ads featuring Morant on its website and social media according to reports.
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Photo: Justin Ford / Getty
Written By D.L. Chandler , Senior Editor Posted 50 mins ago @dlchandler123 D.L. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. Initially freelancing at iOne Digital in 2010, he officially joined the iOne team in 2017 where he currently works as a Senior Editor […]
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Ja Morant was thought to be returning to the Memphis Grizzlies after serving a widely reported two-game suspension after he was seen brandishing a gun on Instagram Live. Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said that a timetable for Morant’s return has yet to be established as the team continues to address the needs of its superstar player.
As reported by ESPN, Coach Jenkins spoke to the media before the Grizzlies took on the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday (March 6). In the pre-game press conference, Jenkins said that the team is focused on getting Morant the help he needs to address his off-court issues while also pledging to keep him accountable for his actions.
“There’s not a definitive timeline, we have said that it would be at least two games,” Jenkins said to one reporter. “We’re taking it one day at a time, this is a healing process.”
He added, “He’s [Morant] understands that he’s made some difficult decisions and poor choices in the past that he has to account for, that’s what you saw in the statement, it speaks for itself.”
Morant issued a public statement apologizing for his actions and adding that he’s seeking help with stress and other concerns.
“I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire organization for letting you down,” the statement said. “I’m going to take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being.”
Ja Morant remains the face of the Grizzles franchise and one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. At just 23 years of age, Jenkins and the Grizzlies’ front office appear committed to helping their player through his recent woes.
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Photo: Justin Ford / Getty
Written By D.L. Chandler , Senior Editor Posted 41 mins ago @dlchandler123 D.L. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. Initially freelancing at iOne Digital in 2010, he officially joined the iOne team in 2017 where he currently works as a Senior Editor […]
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Ja Morant, the high-flying superstar for the Memphis Grizzlies, is in a lot of legal hot water after facing allegations of punching a teen after a pickup basketball game. Now, new details in the case reveal that Morant allegedly flashed the teen with a handgun.
The Washington Post broke the news of new details of the case mounting against Ja Morant, and the outlet also connects the aforementioned gun-flashing incident with a string of reported negative encounters some have had with Morant and his associates.
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New details are emerging in the case of Morant, 23, who is facing a lawsuit after admitting to hitting a teen in the face in retaliation after a pickup game at his home July 26, 2022. Now, the alleged victim, who was 17 at the time, claims that Morant flashed a handgun during their encounter.
It appears that a hard pass from the teen was tossed at Morant which struck him in the face, leading to him allegedly punching the teen. The flashing occurred after the hit according to reports. Morant reportedly told police that the teen threatened to return to the residence and “light this place up like fireworks.”
The new allegations connected to the fight emerged as a result of a lawsuit brought by the teen. Morant has been mum about the matter and the Grizzlies organization declined to comment.
Ja Morant has not been formally charged.
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Jayson Tatum is one of the most electrifying basketball players in the NBA today, culminating in his being a starter in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah. The St.Louis native unveiled his first signature shoe as a member of the Jordan Brand slate of athletes, the Tatum 1, with a design with adults and younger folks in mind.
Jayson Tatum, 24, shared his excitement of getting his own sneaker under the revered Jordan Brand offering of sneakers in a statement. The motivation for the sneaker and its innovative design transported Tatum back to his younger days as he admired other basketball legends and their signature shoes.
“I want people to feel like they can connect to me,” Tatum said in a statement. “I remember being a kid, walking into the store, and looking for the signature shoes of my favorite players. The moment I saw the shoe or put the shoe on, I felt like I was in sync and closer to them in a way. So, I want this shoe to be a bridge between my fans and me to bring us closer together.”
As shared in a press release from Nike, the Tatum 1 was designed with Tatum’s comfort in mind as one of the most athletic players we’ve seen in the game in recent times. With a secure connection to the foot reinforced by a lightweight TPU frame, the shoe is surrounded by ground-contact foam that featured an integrated traction pattern. The shoe has very little rubber on the toe and ball of the foot, styled for how Tatum plays off his forefoot.
Via the trade-off in the design, the Tatum 1 is the lightest Jordan Brand shoe in its vast lineup and also houses an uncage Zoom Air bag in the forefoot that provides some bounce back but still fosters a connection to the court floor. The collar of the shoe is padded to support the ankles and the mesh knit upper of the shoe is well-made but light in weight.
The Tatum 1 “Zoo” colorway was inspired by Tatum’s young son, Deuce, and their trips to the zoo hence the animal prints on the outside of the sneaker.
The “St. Louis” colorway features the colors of his hometown baseball team and has “Archer Ave,” the street where he grew up, stitched inside the tongue of the shoe.
The “Barbershop” colorway, only available in adult sizes, gives a nod to Tatum’s always crisp lineup and fade and how he feels most confident after a cut.
Lastly, the “Pink Lemonade” colorway is a salute to Tatum’s favorite beverage.
Other flourishes to the shoe are the words “Living Proof” on the outer part of the rubber, which is a hat tip to fellow St. Louis native, Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards. The words “I Just Didn’t Quit” are located on the TPU portion of the outsole, and Tatum has that same phrase tatted on his calf. The TPU piece also features the coordinates of St. Louis.
Tatum has often expressed his deep respect for the late, great Kobe Bryant, who inspired his all-around All-Star game. Just as the Black Mamba inspired him, Tatum hopes to serve as a beacon for other up-and-coming players and all of those who are chasing dreams.
“Kobe inspired me to follow my dreams, dedicate myself to my craft, and ultimately become the person I am today. Today’s kids are our future, and one of my main responsibilities is to inspire the next up. Whether I get to meet them or they’re inspired by me from afar, my hope is that my journey and my story can impact people to go after whatever they want in life,” Tatum added.
The Tatum 1 will go to retail on April 7 with the “Zoo” colorway coming in both adult and kid sizes along with the additional aforementioned colorways coming as well.
Congratulations to Jayson Tatum!
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Photo: Jordan Brand/Nike
Written By D.L. Chandler , Senior Editor Posted 44 mins ago @dlchandler123 D.L. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. Initially freelancing at iOne Digital in 2010, he officially joined the iOne team in 2017 where he currently works as a Senior Editor […]
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The team at Ralph Lauren has some explaining to do. George Gervin is suing the brand over unauthorized use of his likeness.
As spotted on Nice Kicks the basketball legend has filed a lawsuit against the apparel and home goods company. According to Bloomberg Law he is seeking compensation over what deems to be a clear and cut case of exploitation of his likeness. The Polo Ralph Lauren marque is selling a sneaker called the “Gervin Mid”. Not only does it use his name but the shoe bears a striking resemblance to the Nike’s Blazer Mid Vintage 77 sneaker which he was the first to debut in an NBA game.
According to the paperwork he was alerted about the Ralph Lauren release by a friend who saw the high-top and sent him a text congratulations. Gervin and his legal team then sent a cease and desist letter and followed up with a formal lawsuit. “I have worked hard throughout my career to build my name and reputation, and I will not allow any company to exploit it without my permission” Gervin said in a formal statement about the matter. “I am taking legal action to protect my rights and ensure that consumers are not misled”. Counsel for Ralph Lauren says that this is all a coincidence and they named their sneaker the “Gervin Mid” because it “sounded good”.
Nicknamed “the Iceman”, is an American former professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls. Gervin averaged at least 14 points per game in all 14 of his ABA and NBA seasons, and finished with an NBA career average of 26.2 points per game. In 1996, Gervin was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and in 2021, Gervin was named as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history.
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Written By D.L. Chandler , Senior Editor Posted 6 mins ago @dlchandler123 D.L. Chandler is a veteran of the Washington D.C. metro writing scene, working as a journalist, reporter, and culture critic. Initially freelancing at iOne Digital in 2010, he officially joined the iOne team in 2017 where he currently works as a Senior Editor […]