Nike Releases Statement on Ja Morant Amid NBA Investigation, Absence
Nike released a statement Saturday saying that the company will “support” sponsorship partner Ja Morant amid the NBA’s investigation into the Grizzlies guard.
Morant will be away from the Grizzlies for two games after sharing a video on his Instagram account in which he flashed a gun on camera, the team announced earlier Saturday.
“We appreciate Ja’s accountability and that he is taking the time to get the help he needs. We support his prioritization of his well-being,” the company’s statement said, via Shams Charania.
After Morant was hit with the two-game ban, Memphis’s star point guard released a statement indicating he was taking some time away in order to get help. He has since deactivated both his Twitter and Instagram accounts.
The two-time All-Star Game starter was also accused of punching a 17-year-old boy during a pickup game at his house in a lawsuit filed this week.
Mannix: Ja Morant Has Everything. He Could Lose It All.
Morant signed a multi-year contract with Nike back in 2019 ahead of the NBA draft in which he was selected with the No. 2 overall pick out of Murray State. His first signature shoe, the Ja 1, was revealed in December and hit shelves in early February. He became the 23rd player to receive a signature shoe from Nike.
Just over a month later, Morant finds himself in some hot water with the league and at the center of an investigation as a result of the controversial social media activity. While it doesn't appear his Nike deal is in any immediate jeopardy, the brand will surely be keeping a close eye on the 23-year-old amid his suspension and the negative noise surrounding his off-court antics.
