Is Nike preparing to terminate its contract with Ja Morant?
By Scott Rogust
Days after Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant had his second instance of waving a gun on Instagram, his upcoming sneaker release is no longer being listed on the Nike app.
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is in trouble following another incident involving a gun.
This past week, Morant was on Instagram Live and waved a handgun while in a car. This comes months after he was suspended for eight games due to a similar incident, in which he waved a gun at a Colorado nightclub.
Morant served his suspension and went for counseling. Now, he is currently waiting to see if the league will hand down a punishment.
But is Morant also dealing with repercussions from Nike?
Morant has a shoe deal with Nike and was set to have his latest Ja 1 “Hunger” shoes released to the public on May 25. However, the new sneakers are no longer being listed on Nike’s app. However, they are still listed on the SNKRS app.
Is Nike prepared to cut ties with Ja Morant over latest gun incident?
For those wondering if that is a sign if the sneaker and apparel brand is cutting ties with Morant, that is currently unknown as of this writing, as Nike has yet to comment.
Following the first incident and Morant stepping away from the team, Nike released a statement through The Athletic’s Shams Charania, saying “We appreciate Ja’s accountability and that he is taking the time to get the help he needs. We support his prioritization of his well-being.”
When the aforementioned video went viral this past week, the Grizzlies announced that the former second-overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was suspended from all team activities pending an investigation by the league.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said to ESPN’s Malika Andrews at the Draft Lottery this past Tuesday that he was “shocked” when he saw the video.
“Now, we’re in the process of investigating it, and we’ll figure out exactly what happened to the best we can. The video is a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst,” said Silver, h/t ESPN.
Morant released a statement later that night after Silver’s comments.
“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” Morant said, h/t NBA.com. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. 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.”