Ja Morant admits he made a ‘bad mistake’ when he went on Instagram with a gun at a strip club

Ja Morant has spoken publicly for the first time since he was seen brandishing a gun at a Denver-area strip club, admitting he made a “bad mistake” and talking to therapists while away from the team.

Morant last played for the Grizzlies on March 3, and was suspended by the league Wednesday for eight games without pay—with the five games he’s missed so far counting towards the suspension.

While it is not immediately clear when Morant will return to court, he has spoken about his actions ESPN interview with Jalen Rose.

“The gun wasn’t for me,” Morant told Rose in the interview, which is set to air in full Wednesday night.

‘That’s not who I am.’ I do not condone any kind of violence. But I take full responsibility for my actions. You made a big mistake.

Rose Morant also asked if he was “proud to be a role model,” to which the Memphis star said, “I do. I realize I have a lot of kids looking up to me. Maybe even some adults. I realize my past mistakes aren’t a good role model.”

Morant added that he feels — with the help of therapy, reiki therapy, and “breathing anxiety —”[s] Mentally good where I haven’t been in many years.

In a press release published Wednesday, the NBA did not conclude that the gun in question belonged to Morant, or that he brought it to a nightclub or displayed it soon after.

The statement added that they did not find that Morant “was in possession of the gun while traveling with the team or at any NBA facility.”

Morant made the trip to New York City to meet with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after entering (and leaving) a counseling program in Florida.

However, while Morant is eligible to play as early as Monday, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins has already indicated that he is not expected to play in that game, according to The Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds.

“There’s a lot of internal dialogue going on and obviously there are still things going on league-wide that we’re communicating with,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Monday night, before his team plays the Dallas Mavericks.

“Ja is fully engaged in this process and ready for whatever comes next.”

Memphis—who won 104–88 against Dallas—announced on March 4 that Morant would miss “at least the next two games” and later gave an update on March 8 saying he would miss “at least the next four games.”

Leaked photos from the 23-year-old’s night at the strip club showed he spent $50,000 that evening.

However, the club owner known as ‘Shotgun Willie’s’ was extremely complimentary of Morant’s behavior all night, despite the criticism and ridicule he was subjected to.

“That kid, a real little one, was very respectful and kind and didn’t drink,” said Dnavon.

‘We’ve had [Denver] Nuggets and Broncos… Come on and show the girls lodgings, being disrespectful and vulgar. It is a nice.

Prior to the incident at the strip club, Morant had come under fire after details emerged from a report about a lawsuit stating that Morant and an accomplice punched a teen “12-13 times” after he played basketball at Morant’s house.

Furthermore, The Washington Post reported that Morant and his cohorts had a run-in with a security guard at a local mall who left the security guard fearing for his safety, after a member of the group mentioned waiting for the guard when he was gone. out of work.