Why there is not actually a precedent to suspend Ja Morant for 50 games, explained

Former NBA guard Sebastian Telfair was suspended for two games when he was found with a loaded gun on a team plane.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has found himself at the center of several different alleged controversies.

The guard has made headlines for off-court drama, which included flashing an apparent gun on his Instagram while at a nightclub. Morant, who took “full responsibility” for all of his actions, has deactivated his Twitter and his Instagram accounts.

Morant is away from the team for at least two games. Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins, however, said there is “no timetable” for Morant’s return. His teammates, including Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., said that they’ll welcome him back with open arms.

But how long will it be until he is able to return to the court? NBA reporter Marc Stein recently said on his podcast, #thisleague UNCUT, that it could be 50 games. This, however, is not true.

Around the 14-minute mark of the episode, Stein misspoke. He stated that if there is a firearm on team premises, that is an “automatic” suspension for 50 games.

He later clarified on Twitter that while indeed a violation of NBA rules and subject to discipline, there is no specific suspension length in the bylaws.

Here is the exact language used in the CBA (on page 142):

“Whenever a player is physically present at a facility or venue owned, operated, or being used by a Team, the NBA, or any League-related entity, and whenever a player is traveling on any NBA-related business, whether on behalf of the player’s Team, the NBA, or any League-related entity, such player shall not possess a firearm of any kind or any other deadly weapon. For purposes of the foregoing, “a facility or venue” includes, but is not limited to: an arena; a practice facility; a Team or League office or facility; an All-Star or NBA Playoff venue; and the site of a promotional or charitable appearance.”

So if Morant transported the firearm that he flashed on Instagram using the team plane, he could be in violation of this rule and subject to discipline.

Additionally, if Morant owned a firearm, the CBA dictates that he had to show the Grizzlies proof of a license or registration before the season began. The NBA will surely investigate if he followed this procedure, too.

Any violation of either is subject to discipline in accordance with Article 35(d) of the NBA Constitution and By-Laws. Here is what that states (on page 528):

“The Commissioner shall have the power to suspend for a definite or indefinite period, or to impose a fine not exceeding $50,000, or inflict both such suspension and fine upon any Player who, in his opinion, (i) shall have made or caused to be made any statement having, or that was designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of basketball or of the Association or of a Member, or (ii) shall have been guilty of conduct that does not conform to standards of morality or fair play, that does not comply at all times with all federal, state, and local laws, or that is prejudicial or detrimental to the Association.”

The main takeaway here is that if the NBA concludes that Morant had a firearm present at a team facility, like the team plane, Adam Silver has the power to suspend Morant for a definite or indefinite amount of time.

Silver has not handed out any gun-related suspensions. But his predecessor and mentor, former commissioner David Stern, did.

Stern opted to suspend Washington’s Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the season. The two former NBA players brought guns into the locker room during the 2009-10 season.

Crittenton served 38 games of his suspension (which was the remainder of the season) and the Wizards waived him at the end of the campaign. He never played in the NBA again.

Arenas’ discipline amounted to a 50-game absence because he was already serving a suspension for carrying a gun in his locker. This was the longest suspension in the NBA since 2010-11, per Spotrac.

Otherwise, there are not many firearm-related incidents in the NBA from which to draw precedent. But there are at least two other notable examples.

Former NBA guard Sebastian Telfair was suspended for two games when a loaded handgun, registered to his girlfriend, was found in the pillowcase on a team plane in 2006.

Stephen Jackson, meanwhile, was suspended for seven games in 2007 after firing a gun during an altercation. That incident did not happen within a team facility.

Each case is different, of course, and the timing of Morant’s latest incident may exacerbate the punishment. Plus, there are now multiple incidents concerning Morant which involve a firearm.

But regardless, whatever Silver decides after the league concludes an investigation will likely establish a precedent for how the NBA punishes similar incidents should they happen again in the future.

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