MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee police conducted a wellness check on suspended Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant on Wednesday and said “he’s fine” after cryptic messages appeared on his Instagram account and were later deleted. .
The previous Wednesday’s post included messages and images saying “I love you mom”, “I love you pops” and “You are the greatest little girl who loves you”. A fourth message simply said: “Bye”.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office spokesman John Morris told The Associated Press in a phone call that deputies checked on Morant at his home Wednesday morning.
“He informed us that he was taking a break from social media,” Morris said.
Morant, 23, has been suspended from all team activities following a video of him holding a gun that circulated on social media on May 13. The video was the two-time All-Star’s second gun presentation in three months in a social media video.
The first video cost Morant an eight-game suspension and around $669,000 in lost wages in March. The second could be much more expensive with his five-year, $194 million maximum contract set to start the upcoming season.
Video captured on May 13 and widely shared online was released by an associate of Morant and showed him holding what appeared to be a gun as he sat in the passenger seat of a vehicle. The first video showed him showing off a gun in a strip club.
The Grizzlies suspended Morant from team activities on May 14, pending the league’s investigation.
Spotrac.com noted that Morant should receive $33.5 million for the 2023-24 season if the NBA salary cap is set at $134 million. A suspension of 20 games or less would cost Morant $231,034 per game while 20+ games would mean he loses $304,545 per game.
Powerade, the sports drink company, released an ad featuring Morant almost immediately after the March video.
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