Ja Morant — What’s gone wrong with the Memphis Grizzlies star

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The incidents are piling up.

Morant’s troubles stem from a combination of off-court issues, on-court discipline lapses, and frustrations within his team environment. Here are the key items:

Gun-related social-media incidents: In March 2023, Morant was seen on Instagram Live brandishing a firearm, which drew an eight-game suspension from the NBA for “conduct detrimental to the league.” A couple of months later, another video emerged of him with a firearm, which triggered a 25-game suspension for the start of the 2023-24 season.
Gesture issues & continued discipline: In April 2025, despite warnings from the league office, Morant made multiple “finger-gun” gestures during games. He was fined $75,000 for the conduct.
Injury and missed games/availability concerns: Morant has also missed significant time due to injuries (shoulder, hip, foot) and because of suspensions. Availability has become a question mark.
Conduct with team/coaching staff: Most recently (November 1, 2025), the Memphis Grizzlies suspended Morant for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team,” following a post-game outburst in which he criticized his own coaches after a poor performance (3-of-14 shooting, 0-for-6 3-pt) and said things like “Go ask the coaching staff… According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly.”

What it says about the bigger picture

Leadership and maturity: Morant was once viewed as a dynamic, high-energy young star who lifted his team. These incidents point to a gap between talent and leadership maturity. The gun-flashings and gestures suggest judgment issues; the handling of coach relations suggests emotional control issues.
Team cohesion: When a top player clashes with the coaching staff and deflects responsibility (“Go ask the coaching staff”), it undermines team culture. The Grizzlies’ decision to suspend him internally signals they view this as a serious disruption.
Brand and public perception: Morant’s actions have cost him financially (missed games = missed pay), caused him to become a “villain figure” in the media, and may be dragging on his long-term brand value.
Performance and availability: A star is most valuable when consistently available and performing. Between suspensions and injuries, Morant has missed large chunks of seasons — this reduces his impact and raises questions for the franchise about reliability.
Franchise implications: The Grizzlies built around Morant as their cornerstone. These continued missteps threaten the team’s trajectory: both undercutting his own development and the team’s ability to build sustained success.

What went wrong

In short, it’s not one single breakdown — it’s a cascade:

The spark: gun-flashing videos that violated off-court expectations and league standards.
The continuation: gestures and behavior that disregarded prior warnings, showing he hadn’t corrected earlier issues fully.
The internal strain: coach/player friction, public comments, deflection of blame to others.
The compounding: availability issues (injury + suspension), which reduce performance and reliability.
The reputational damage: trust erodes, both inside the team (coaches/teammates) and outside (media, league, sponsors).

So what’s next for Morant & the Grizzlies?

Self-reflection & adjustment: Morant needs to show he has learned from past behavior and is committed to being consistent both on and off the court.
Re-building trust: With his coaches, teammates, and the organization. Public comments matter. Private effort counts too.
Availability & health focus: Staying healthy and on the court is key — the “can’t miss star” profile only works if you can show up.
Consistent performance: Beyond the headlines, Morant must return to being one of the league’s most effective guards to reset his value and his team’s belief in him.
Culture alignment: The Grizzlies must decide: do they lean fully in on Morant as their leader, or do they need to change the mold around him? The recent suspension suggests the team is holding him accountable.

Final thought

Ja Morant’s situation is a cautionary tale of how elite talent can be undermined by off-court behavior, internal conflict, and questions of availability. He remains a generational talent. But as things stand, what’s going wrong isn’t his athletic ability — it’s how the whole package (behavior, mindset, relationships, consistency) is being managed. Once an up-and-coming Mega Star. Morant finds himself in a bad place, a bad space.

How Morant responds now may define not just his career but the trajectory of the Grizzlies organization.