Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant will be away from the team for at least the next two games following a live video on his Instagram page early Saturday morning where he appeared to brandish a gun, the team announced.
The NBA is also investigating Morant following the incident, league spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
In a video clip shared on Twitter, Morant reveals the weapon on camera while singing and dancing shirtless at a party.
Morant apologized for his actions and said he'll take time away from the team in a statement via his agent.
I take full responsibility for my actions last night. I'm sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis, and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down. I'm going to take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being.
The video comes just days after a report by The Washington Post's Molly Hensley-Clancy regarding an incident at Morant's home last summer where he allegedly punched a 17-year-old boy before returning to him with a gun in his waistband. Morant told police he acted out of self-defense after the boy threw a basketball at him, but police couldn't confirm whether Morant possessed a gun during the incident.
Morant was also accused of threatening the head of security at a Memphis mall just four days prior to the alleged fight. In a police report filed by the security guard, Morant allegedly muttered, "Let me find out what time he gets off," making the guard feel threatened.
The NBA has already investigated Morant this season after an incident involving the All-Star and his acquaintances following a game against the Indiana Pacers. A member of the Pacers' traveling party said someone in the car Morant was traveling in pointed a red laser at them, believed to be from a gun. The league determined that it could "not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon."
