Police in Tennessee have made a welfare check on Ja Morant after the Memphis Grizzlies star left messages on his Instagram account that sparked concern.
In the posts on Wednesday, Morant paid tribute to his parents and daughter before writing “bye”. A spokesperson for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office told TMZ that the department had checked on Morant at his home and the 23-year-old is “doing fine.” The spokesperson added that Morant told them “that he is taking a break from social media.”
Ja Morant’s Instagram story:
— NBA Buzz (@OfficialNBABuzz) May 24, 2023
“Love ya ma 💙”
“Love ya pops 💙”
“You da greatest baby girl 💙 love ya”
“Bye.”
Stay strong, Ja 🙏 pic.twitter.com/hur6UJnRby
The Grizzlies suspended Morant earlier this month after he flashed a gun in an Instagram Live video two months after he was involved in a similar incident. In March, the league suspended Morant for eight games after he was filmed flashing a gun in a Colorado stripclub.
After his most recent suspension, Morant said that “my words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”
Morant’s conduct had been concerning even before his most recent suspension. After a game in January, members of the Indiana Pacers reported that what could have been a laser sight from a gun was pointed at them after a game. People close to Morant had clashed with Pacers players during the game.
Morant is being sued after an incident at his home last summer. A 17-year-old claims he was attacked by Morant and a friend during a game of basketball. The teenager claims Morant came out of his house with a gun afterwards. The local district attorney investigated the alleged incident and did not proceed with a criminal case.
Morant is one of the most talented young players in the NBA. He was the No 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft and is a two-time All-Star.