Ja Morant to miss 4 more games, Colorado police say no charges

MemphisGrizzlies guard Ja Morant will be away from the team for at leastfour more games, the team said on Wednesday, shortly after policeannounced that he will not face charges in Colorado related tothelivestreamed video is which heappeared to be displaying a gun in a strip club.

“Ja Morantwill continue to remain away from the team for at least the nextfour games,” the team said with no further comment.

That meansMorant will miss games against Golden State on Thursday, homeagainst Dallas on Saturday, at Dallas on Monday and at Miami onMarch 15. The earliest he could play is March 17 at San Antonio,and there’s no guarantee of that.

Meanwhile,the Glendale Police Department said it looked into the video, whichwas a stream that Morant showed on his Instagram channel while heseemed to be holding a firearm, and found no proof that a crime wascommitted. Glendale is an enclave surrounded by the city ofDenver.

“In thiscase, it should be noted that on the night in question the GPD didnot receive any calls for service at the nightclub regarding aweapon of any type,” police said. “Subsequently, no disturbanceswere reported, and no citizens of patrons of the club came forwardto make a complaint.

“Theinvestigation also concluded that no one was threatened or menacedwith the firearm and in fact no firearm was ever located.”

The NBA hassaid it is also looking into the matter, and has not announced anysanctions — such as a suspension — against Morant.

Police saidthe investigation confirmed that “the incident” — Morant was notnamed in the release, which only made reference to “a prominent NBAplayer” — occurred at an establishment called Shotgun Willies inGlendale. The two-time All-Star streamed the video in the earlyhours of Saturday, after the Grizzlies played in Denver on Fridaynight.

TheGrizzlies said Morant would be away from the team for at least twogames — those were Sunday and Tuesday — andMorant later said that hedecided“to take some time away to get help and work onlearning better methods of dealing with stress and my overallwell-being.”

It is notclear what that means. Morant has not commented further and theGrizzlies have not shared what steps he is taking or why he isseeking help.