Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant sparked concern with his cryptic Instagram posts, leading to a welfare check by Tennessee police.
According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the NBA All-Star was found to be “fine” after authorities visited his residence.
A spokesperson for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies had checked on Morant and revealed that he had informed them about his decision to take a break from social media.
Morant had shared several photos on his Instagram story, making references to his mother, father, daughter, and sister. He later posted an image of himself being interviewed after a game with the caption “bye.” However, he promptly deleted these messages shortly after publishing them.
The basketball star had not made any new posts on Instagram since May 9, and his last tweet was on May 13.
Earlier, on May 14, the Grizzlies suspended Morant from all team activities after he seemingly displayed a firearm during an Instagram Live session on his friend Davonte Pack’s account.
The NBA is currently investigating the incident, and Morant may face a substantial suspension at the beginning of the next season.
In March, Morant had already received an eight-game suspension from the NBA for conduct detrimental to the league.
The punishment came after he streamed a video of himself holding a gun while under the influence at a Denver nightclub. Following the suspension, Morant spoke to reporters about undergoing therapy to manage stress, highlighting it as an ongoing process.
After the Grizzlies’ first-round playoff elimination by the Los Angeles Lakers, Morant expressed the need for increased discipline in his life.
Aside from these issues, the 23-year-old player is currently facing a lawsuit from a high school student who accused him of punching him during a pickup basketball game at Morant’s home in July 2022. No charges were filed in that incident, as Morant’s agent claimed self-defence.
In February, Morant made headlines when the NBA investigated claims by the Indiana Pacers that members of his entourage engaged in aggressive behavior and possibly directed a red laser at them after a game in Memphis.
