Ja Morant’s alleged off-court drama and suspension, explained

Morant allegedly invited an unidentified 17-year-old local basketball player to his home to play in a pick-up game.

Things got a bit heated between the two as the teen guarded Morant. The two reportedly began to throw the basketball at one another until the ball hit Morant in the face.

Morant and a friend then reportedly began to beat the teen. Here’s more from the Post.

“Ja hit me like 12 to 13 times,” the boy said, adding that the friend struck him four or five times. When police asked the boy how hard the punches landed, he compared them to an MMA bout.

After the men were pulled off him, the boy told police, Morant went inside and the boy got up to leave. As the boy was going to his car, he said, Morant “came outside with his gun.” It was tucked into his pants, the boy said, and though he didn’t pull it out, the boy said he saw Morant put his hand on it.”

Morant reportedly claimed he acted in self-defense and thought the ball hitting him in the face was the first hit. He hasn’t been charged in the incident.