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A postgame altercation involving NBA star Ja Morant and several other individuals was investigated by the league following allegations made by the Indiana Pacers organization. The incident took place after a highly tense match between Indiana and Memphis on January 30.
According to The Athletic, the altercation started after Andrew Nembhard, an Indiana basketball player, engaged in a verbal exchange with Morant's father, which escalated into a heated argument between the players. The situation outside the arena took a turn for the worse when Morant's close friend Davonte Pack and several other associates got out of two parked SUVs and started a 15-20-minute verbal argument with the Indiana players.
"We felt we were in grave danger," said one witness present at the scene.
Associates of Ja Morant verbally accosted Pacers personnel and someone trained a red laser on them from a nearby SUV postgame on Jan. 29.
“We felt we were in grave danger," a person who was present said.
The NBA investigated the incident.
More from @bkravitz and @sam_amick: — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 5, 2023
Investigating the Confrontation
The league, through its spokesperson Mike Bass, confirmed that they conducted an investigation, interviewing eyewitnesses and reviewing video surveillance.
However, the league could not substantiate the claim that any individual threatened others with a weapon. "NBA Security and league investigators conducted an investigation interviewing numerous eyewitnesses and reviewing video surveillance following allegations made by the Indiana Pacers organization regarding a postgame incident on Jan.
29. While we substantiated that a postgame situation arose that was confrontational, based on interviews and other evidence gathered, we could not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon," Bass said.
"Certain individuals involved in the postgame situation and a related matter during the game that night have been subsequently banned from attending games in the arena. If additional information becomes available related to the postgame situation, the league office will conduct a further review." In a statement, the Grizzlies said they have "complied completely with the league's investigation and are abiding by its findings." "That was addressed internally," Jenkins said.
"Aware of the investigation of the NBA. We were fully compliant with it. I think they came out with a statement saying nothing was corroborated or found. … That's all I'm going to comment about."The investigation is ongoing, and more information is expected in the coming days.