Morant pinatawan ng NBA ng 25-game suspension

NEW YORK — Pinata­wan kahapon ng NBA si Memphis Girzzlies superstar guard Ja Morant ng isang 25-game suspension para sa darating na season.

Ito ay dahil sa pagdi-dis­play niya ng baril sa isang social media video.

“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” sabi ni NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

Nakatakdang tumanggap ang 23-anyos na si Morant ng halos $33.5 mil­yon sa darating na season.

Maaari siyang maba­wa­san ng $300,000 per game o $7.5 milyon dahil sa kanyang suspensyon.

Ito ang ikalawang su­­nod na sinuspinde si Mo­­rant sa huling tatlong bu­­wan bunga ng pagpapa­kita niya ng baril sa social media matapos ang eight-game suspension noong Marso.

“The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these cir­cumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated,” dagdag ni Silver.

Bago makabalik si Mo­rant sa liga at sa mga ak­tibidad ng Grizzlies ay kailagan niya munang sumu­nod sa ilang kondisyon.

Nauna na siyang si­nus­pinde ng Memphis sa kanilang mga team ac­­ti­vities.

“I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis. I’m spending the off-season and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision making,” sabi ni Morant.