Nike responds to troubling Ja Morant gun video after suspension

After a troubling video showed Ja Morant flashing a gun, Nike released a statement saying they will “support” Morant despite the hot water he finds himself in with the NBA.

The 23-year-old Grizzlies guard will miss two games after an Instagram live video went viral of Morant at an unnamed strip club holding up a handgun with his left hand, the team announced on Saturday.

“We appreciate Ja’s accountability and that he is taking the time to get the help he needs. We support his prioritisation of his well-being,” Nike said.

This handgun incident comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed last week, in which Morant is accused of hitting a teen and flashing a gun last summer.

Following the announcement of the two-game ban, the two-time All-Star released a statement saying he takes “full responsibility for my actions last night.”

“I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire organization for letting you down,” he said. “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.”

Morant has since deactivated his Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Nike signed Morant before he was selected by the Grizzlies No. 2 overall in the 2019 draft out of Murray State.

In December, Morant became the 23rd player to have a signature shoe created by Nike, the Ja 1, which was released in February.

In his final game before the suspension on Friday against the Nuggets, Morant put up 27 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds in the 113-97 loss.

He is averaging 27 points, six rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game this season.Morant will miss matchups against the Clippers and Lakers on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.