The NBA has finally announced that embattled Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant will be suspended for the first 25 games of the season due to his second gun-toting incident caught in an Instagram live feed.
Many expressed disappointment over his latest action since he was already suspended for a similar offense last March.
Grizzlies and their fans will have to endure the first two months without their superstar. For Morant, his bank account will also suffer.
The 2019 2nd overall draft pick stands to lose $7.6 million over the course of suspension.
The 25-game Ja Morant suspension will cost $7.6M.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 16, 2023
$304,545 for every game missed
Morant is entering year 1 of a $194M rookie max extension that he signed last July.
That might not sound a lot, considering he will earn around $33 million for the next season. He is only entering the first year of his $194M rookie max extension signed last year.
Read more: Ja Morant Speaks Up After Gun-Toting Incident
While the amount is bearable NBA salary-wise, he could lose a lot outside of the NBA court. NBA players' other source of income includes endorsement. Many believe that brands will disassociate themselves from the troubled young star. Currently, Morant is tied with Hulu, Panini America, Powerade, and Nike, with whom he has a signature shoe called Ja 1s.
The league also recently implemented a total number of games before a player gets nominated for individual awards. This could hurt his chances of making it to the First Team or becoming a candidate for the season MVP award. If this happens, this could also affect his chances for a max extension.
Is Suspension excessive?
This is the second offense for Ja Morant, and many were disappointed with his actions as if he has learned nothing from his first suspension.
He already accepted his punishment, but the NBA Players Association thinks the 25 games he will miss are excessive. The org, through its executive director Tamika Tremaglio, suggested Adam Silver gave a suspension different from how other incidents were handled while the facts involving the incident were either missed or not considered.
Related article: Nike Makes Move Away from Ja Morant
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