“Talking To Him Like The Green Goblin Mask”: Ja Morant’s New Gun Celebration Has NBA Community In An Uproar

Ja Morant

Good or bad, Ja Morant simply cannot stay away from the spotlight. A few years ago, it was because of his breathtaking dunks. Now, it’s for something not all too savory. A gun celebration. Yes, again.

This was supposed to be a taboo subject for the Memphis Grizzlies superstar. Guns should have been a no-no word in his dictionary since he first got suspended for flashing a gun at a nightclub two years ago. Morant had spent 2023 brandishing firearms more than once, and the league forced him to sit out 25 games. 

Morant, however, seems bent on continuing his affair with guns. In the 24-25 season, he performed a finger-gun celebration during a game, for which he got fined $75k. The league made it clear it wasn’t okay for a player with a history of brandishing guns to be doing this. But Morant went ahead and did just that earlier this week.

In the Grizzlies’ 121-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Morant once again made a gun gesture. He did not mimic firing it, though. He, instead, was seen motioning as if to put it away. Regardless, it was strange coming from him. It felt like a provocation, or, to be kind, a brief slip back into his old self.

Fans, as always, saw the funny side of things with one user on X referencing mentally-disturbed villain Green Goblin (from Spiderman) to describe the situation. “The Glock be talking to him like the green goblin mask,” they wrote.

“He’s getting fined… bro just can’t help himself,” another fan wrote, which may not be true because, in this case, Morant was putting the gun down. Some fans realized this as well and found it hilarious.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver may choose to ignore the incident, especially given the way fans joked about it. Morant technically did not make a firing gesture. Regardless, the league is almost certain to keep an eye on him or issue a warning, or, to be kind once again, a reminder.

Morant, however, has never seemed fazed by scrutiny over how he celebrates. After appearing to mimic a grenade throw last year, he defended the gesture by saying it was simply his celebration and that anyone who had a problem with it should speak to him directly.

Post Edited By: Leslie Xavier
Ja Morant Memphis Grizzlies

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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