NBA investigating Ja Morant social media video flashing apparent ...

The NBA is investigating Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant regarding an Instagram Live video that surfaced early Saturday morning in which he purportedly held a gun.

In the video, posted on Morant's Instagram Live account, Morant is rapping lyrics in what appears to be a nightclub before lifting an apparent handgun near his ear. The video that had more than 1,000 live viewers.

“We are aware of a social media post involving Ja Morant and are investigating," NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said.

The Grizzlies did not respond to a request to comment on the situation, but later Saturday the franchise announced in a one-sentence news release that Morant is stepping away from the team for "at least two games." The franchise did not call it a suspension.

The video surfaced hours after the Grizzlies lost to the Denver Nuggets 113-97 on Friday night.

NBA players have been punished in the past due to Instagram Live content. Earlier this season, Anthony Edwards was fined $40,000 for making anti-gay remarks.

The timing of Morant's incident comes days after a report from the Washington Post said that Morant was "brandishing" a gun after an altercation with a 17-year old teenager at Morant's home last summer. Four days before that incident, Morant was accused of threatening a mall security guard.

The Athletic also reported that acquaintances of Morant " trained a red laser" on members of an Indiana Pacers traveling party after a game at FedExForum on Jan. 29.

Morant was investigated after the Pacers incident by the NBA, but he was not punished.

Earlier this week, Morant's agency made strong statements backing up Morant by calling the Washington Post's reporting "defamatory" and "irresponsible."

"Any and every allegation involving a firearm has been fully investigated and could not be corroborated," Morant's agent Jim Tanner said in a statement on Wednesday, March 1. "This includes the NBA investigation last month, in which they found no evidence."

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