Following a game between the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 29 in Memphis, acquaintances of Grizzlies star Ja Morant aggressively confronted members of the Pacers’ traveling squad near the team bus in the FedExForum loading area, and later someone in a slow-moving SUV – which Morant was riding in – aimed a red laser at them.
The two members of the travel party who spoke to Athleticism said they didn’t see who had flashed the SUV’s laser. They also don’t know if the laser was attached to a gun, but they thought it was. A Pacers security guard in the loading area at the time remarked, “It’s 100% a gun.”
“We felt we were in grave danger,” a person present said. The two sources who spoke to Athleticism requested anonymity because they fear reprisals from those who confronted them. They said they had considered filing a complaint with the police, but decided against it for the same reason.
The Pacers alerted the NBA and league spokesman Mike Bass said Athleticism that the league has probed the issue.
“NBA and league security investigators conducted an investigation by interviewing numerous eyewitnesses and reviewing CCTV following allegations made by the Indiana Pacers organization regarding a post-game incident on January 29. Although we have proven that a post-match situation occurred that was confrontational, based on interviews and other evidence collected, we could not corroborate that an individual threatened others. with a weapon,” Bass said. “Some people involved in the post-game situation and related matter during the game that night were subsequently banned from attending games in the arena. Should additional information become available regarding the post-game situation, the league office will conduct a further review.
Athleticism contacted the Grizzlies on Sunday to seek comment from the team and Morant. A spokesperson responded that the team “has fully complied with the league’s investigation and respects its findings” and declined further comment.
During the January 29 game, several Pacers and Grizzlies team members got into a verbal argument and Morant’s father, Tee, and one of Morant’s longtime friends, Davonte Pack, also addressed comments to Pacers players.
In the third quarter, Pack entered the field and swore at several Pacers players. A game referee intervened, called arena security, and Pack was pulled off the ground.
After the game, Pacers players, coaches and support staff entered the loading area to board a team bus. About 30 to 40 meters from the bus were two parked cars. Pack and four to five other men got out of the cars, walked within 30 feet of the Pacers group, and started yelling at them.
According to the sources, remarks directed at them by Pack and others included: “Come get some” and “you don’t know how we roll” and “I’ll show you what I got.” Some Pacers players and others yelled at them, according to the two people present. The Pacers, NBA and arena security came between the two groups.
The verbal fight continued intermittently for about 15 to 20 minutes, until Morant entered the loading area. He, Pack and the others dispersed in two vehicles. Morant, Pack and another person got into an SUV, sources said. The first vehicle turned towards the bus before exiting through a ramp and exiting the arena loading area. The SUV drove towards the Pacers bus, spun around, slowed down, and that’s when members of the Pacers travel party noticed a red laser coming from the car and streaking at the players , coaches and others.
Pack could not be reached for comment.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said ahead of Sunday’s game against the Raptors – for which Morant was ruled out with wrist pain – that the incident was “handled internally” and that the team was “fully compliant” with the NBA investigation.
(Top photo: Justin Ford/Getty Images)
