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NBA issues warnings to Ja Morant, Buddy Hield after finger gun gestures

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•04/03/25•

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Ja Morant Buddy Hield NBA finger guns
© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

On Tuesday, Ja Morant seemingly made a “finger-gun gesture” at the Golden State Warriors’ bench after Warriors guard Buddy Hield had done the same to him earlier in the game. Due to Morant’s previous gun-related suspension, a video of him making the gesture went viral online.

Less than 24 hours after the Warriors’ 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the NBA announced it was looking into the gestures exchanged between the two players. On Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania provided an update on the NBA’s findings.

“NBA issued warnings – no further penalties – to Grizzlies’ Ja Morant and Warriors’ Buddy Hield along with both teams for gestures on Tuesday night, sources tell ESPN. League ruled the celebrations were not intended to be violent in nature, but inappropriate and should refrain,” Charania wrote on X.

Morant finished the game with 36 points and six assists while shooting 14-22 from the field. Although many players in the past have used “finger guns” as a celebration gesture, the NBA took Morant’s actions more seriously due to his past.

On March 4, 2023, the NBA launched an investigation into Morant after a clip of him flashing a gun on an Instagram livestream surfaced. Morant temporarily stepped away from the Grizzlies to learn better methods of dealing with his stress and “overall well-being.” The NBA also leveled an eight-game suspension on the All-Star.

On May 14, 2023, just over two months after Morant’s initial suspension, he flashed a gun again on an Instagram livestream. This time, the NBA took the incident more seriously and suspended him for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season.

“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in June 2023. “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.”

“I’ve had time to reflect and realize how much hurt I’ve caused,” Ja Morant said in a statement at the time. “I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis.

“I’m spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision-making,” Morant continued. “I’m also going to be training so that I’m ready to go when I can be back on the court… I hope you’ll give me the chance to prove to you over time I’m a better man than what I’ve been showing.”