Police in Tennessee performed a welfare verify on Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant following cryptic messages on his Instagram story account Wednesday, with officers telling TMZ that he is simply “taking a break from social media.”
Earlier Wednesday, Morant posted — after which deleted — messages and footage to social media saying “Love ya ma [blue heart emoji],” “Love ya pops [blue heart emoji]” and “You da biggest child lady [blue heart emoji] love ya.” He then adopted these with a put up that merely mentioned, “Bye.”
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Workplace informed TMZ that officers went to Morant’s dwelling to verify on him.
“He’s fantastic,” the sheriff’s workplace spokesperson informed TMZ.
Morant was suspended from all team activities following a video of him holding a gun that circulated on social media on Could 13.
The video appeared throughout an Instagram Dwell session on Morant’s pal Davonte Pack’s account, with the All-Star flashing a handgun in a automotive whereas singing together with a rap track. The video was deleted.
Morant left the Grizzlies and entered a counseling program in March after a video confirmed him holding a gun whereas intoxicated at a Denver membership when the Grizzlies have been on the town to play the Nuggets. He was finally suspended eight video games after assembly with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who known as Morant’s conduct “irresponsible, reckless and probably very harmful.”
On the time of the suspension, Morant informed ESPN in an interview that he realizes “what I’ve to lose” and mentioned he would attempt to be “extra accountable, extra smarter and staying away from all of the unhealthy choices.”
Morant has been concerned in a number of off-court incidents over the previous yr. He’s being sued by a highschool prospect after a combat throughout a pickup recreation in Morant’s yard, the place Morant and Pack are alleged to have punched the boy within the head. {The teenager} informed police that Morant entered his home after the combat and got here again exterior with a gun in his waistband.
Morant’s five-year, $194 million max contract is about to start this coming season. It may have escalated to a supermax if he had made All-NBA this season; he was not voted onto that staff, which price him about $39 million in future earnings. He has endorsement offers with Nike and Powerade, although the sports activities drink firm pulled an advert that includes Morant after the March video and the advert at present isn’t working.
Morant averaged 26.2 factors this season and helped Memphis safe the No. 2 seed within the Western Convention playoffs.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and The Related Press contributed to this report.