Ja Morant uses new grenade celebration after finger-gun controversy

Ja Morant got in some hot water last week with the NBA over his recent finger gun celebrations.He used a new celebration on Tuesday night with what appeared to be a new pretend weapon.

During the Grizzlies’ 124-100 win over the Hornets, Morant hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter before appearing to mimic the process of pulling a pin from a grenade before throwing it in the direction of the lower bowl at Spectrum Center.Morant then covered his ears as he went back to play defense.Last week, Morant used a finger gun celebration during a game and was then warned by the league over the gesture.But later that week, Morant did a gun celebration again and was subsequently fined $75,000 by the NBA.

“Morant was previously warned by the league office that this gesture could be interpreted in a negative light,” the league said in a statement. “I’m kind of used to it,” Morant said after Thursday’s win about being a “villain.”“I was pretty much a villain for two years now.Every little thing, if somebody can say something negative about me, it’s going to be out there.

So, yeah.I don’t care no more.”Morant was suspended twice in 2023, first for holding a gun on an Instagram Live stream outside of a strip club in Denver, which got him an eight-ban game.

When he brandished a weapon during another video in May, he earned a 25-game suspension.Celebration or not, Morant had a big night on Tuesday with 28 points, eight assists and five rebounds in Memphis’ victory....