New York Post

Morant out indefinite­ly after entering counseling program

- By RYAN GLASSPIEGE­L

It remains unclear when Ja Morant will return to play.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowsk­i and Tim MacMahon reported Monday that the Grizzlies superstar has “entered a counseling program in Florida” and that there is no current timetable as to when he will return to the team.

Morant has missed Memphis’ past four games after a series of off-court incidents.

Last week, the Washington Post published an extensive story about several investigat­ions in which Morant was the subject of.

The story revealed there was a police report filed after a mall security guard accused Morant of threatenin­g him, and an associate of Morant of pushing him.

In a separate altercatio­n, Morant swung multiple times at a Memphis-area high school basketball prospect after an incident in a pickup game at Morant’s home.

The teen accused Morant of entering his home and exiting with a gun visible in his waist band.

Morant claimed self-defense in the incident, as the teen threw a basketball at his face, denied brandishin­g a weapon and accused the teen of threatenin­g gun violence.

No charges were filed in either the mall or pickup game incident.

Days after the Washington Post story published, Morant went on Instagram Live and posted a video in which he flashed a gun in a strip club.

“I take full responsibi­lity for my actions last night,” Morant said in a statement following the strip club video going viral. “I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organizati­on for letting you down.”

The Post exclusivel­y obtained photos of Morant’s two-day, $50,000 trip to the strip club — Shotgun Willie’s in Glendale, Colo. — in which the All-Star covered the room in cash while receiving lap dances, ordering bottle service and food.

“The whole room is full of money — it’s literally a pile. You’d need a rake,” a club insider who witnessed the scene told The Post.

There was also an incident earlier this season in which members of the Pacers claimed Morant’s associates pointed a red laser at them following a confrontat­ion. An NBA investigat­ion could not “corroborat­e” that guns were involved in the Pacers incident.

Last week, TMZ reported Morant was also investigat­ed by police in another incident in which the Grizzlies guard, several associates, and his parents went to a Tennessee high school to confront a teen with whom his younger sister had a dispute at a high school volleyball game; no charges were filed in the incident.

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