Ja Morant has been in the public eye for all the wrong reasons recently, just as his team faces a critical stretch. The Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in a tight race for the playoffs, battling for a spot in the play-in tournament.
With the risk of dropping to the eighth seed, they face the prospect of being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder juggernaut in the first round. As the Grizzlies fight to secure a spot, Morant’s off-court controversies have overshadowed his on-court brilliance, creating distractions at the worst possible time.
This mounting pressure raises the question: Is Ja Morant being unfairly targeted by the NBA, or is his history of infractions catching up with him?

Ja Morant’s off-court issues first appeared during the 2021-22 NBA season, when he threatened someone on Twitter. He responded to a troll with a now-deleted tweet: “It’s free to see how hollow feels,” alarming many observers. Fans interpreted the tweet as a threat, suggesting Morant might physically harm the person behind the online comments.

Although he deleted the message quickly, the moment marked the beginning of troubling behavior that would escalate later. This incident tarnished his growing reputation just as he emerged as one of the league’s most exciting young stars.

Soon after the season ended, Morant found himself embroiled in another controversy at a Memphis mall. Reports stated that Morant’s mother got into an altercation with a mall employee and called her son for support.
Morant allegedly arrived with up to nine people, creating an intimidating scene in the parking lot. The mall’s head of security claimed Morant threatened him during this confrontation and that someone shoved him.

Although no charges followed, the story added to a mounting narrative about Morant’s off-court aggression. Four days later, controversy struck again when Morant hosted a pickup basketball game at his house. A 17-year-old participant accused Morant of punching him during an argument that escalated violently.
The teenager claimed he accidentally hit Morant’s face with the basketball before being attacked and repeatedly punched. Morant admitted striking the teen but said he acted in self-defense after being approached aggressively. The district attorney declined to press charges, but the teen later filed a lawsuit against Morant.

In March 2023, Morant livestreamed himself holding a handgun in a Denver nightclub after a Grizzlies game. The video spread rapidly, causing enormous public backlash and forcing both the NBA and the Grizzlies to respond.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver personally investigated the situation and announced Morant’s suspension for eight games.

Morant apologized and pledged to undergo counseling, promising fans and officials he would turn his behavior around. Yet, only months later, in May 2023, another video surfaced showing Morant holding a gun in a car. This second violation left the NBA little choice, leading to a severe 25-game suspension without pay.

He would enter counseling for two weeks while serving his eight game suspension. He even had a sit-down interview with then ESPN NBA commentator Jalen Rose.

Morant served his suspension the following season but then injuries derailed his campaign. He appeared in only mine games in 2023-24. Grizzlies suffered as a result, limping to a 27-55 record. Morant maintained a relatively low profile until the recent finger-gun controversies.

Morant found controversy again during a game against the Golden State Warriors days ago. He made a “finger gun” gesture toward opponents, prompting the NBA to issue a direct warning to cease such actions. Despite the warning, Morant repeated the finger gun celebration days later against the Miami Heat after a made three-pointer.

The NBA, citing Morant’s history and repeated defiance, fined him $75,000 for twice making inappropriate gestures. Other players have made similar gestures without punishment, but Morant’s history drew special attention from the league. Morant seemed unfazed, telling reporters, “I’ve been a villain for two years now… I don’t care anymore.”

With Morant’s past so publicly documented, any questionable behavior naturally receives heightened scrutiny from the NBA. While the punishment might seem harsher than necessary to some, Morant’s long track record invites closer discipline. So, no Ja morant is not being unfairly targeted by the NBA. Ultimately, the NBA’s actions highlight a simple lesson: when trust is repeatedly broken, consequences become far less forgiving.