Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been sued for allegedly punching a 17-year-old male in the face during a pickup basketball game.
The case was filed in September and later sealed, according to TMZ. The alleged incident occurred at Morant’s home outside of Memphis in July.
Citing police documents, the outlet reported the unnamed teenager said he threw a basketball at Morant that “accidentally” hit him in the face. Morant then allegedly struck the teen with a closed fist that knocked him to the ground.
The report claimed that Morant continued to strike the teen, with another man joining in and also hitting him. The fight was then broken up by those watching the pickup game, and the teenager was escorted from Morant’s property.
Officers say the plaintiff had a large “knot” on his head after the incident.
Morant reportedly admitted to striking the individual but claimed he acted in self-defense. The NBA All-Star also claimed “he and his family were put in fear” by statements from the young man about “lighting” his house up.
The case was later submitted to the district attorney’s office in October, and prosecution was declined later the same month.
The star Grizzlies guard has yet to respond publicly to the new report, according to TMZ.
The Daily Mail added that both Morant and his friend, Davonte Pack, were listed as defendants in the lawsuit. Pack was allegedly the other person involved in the altercation.
On the court, Morant has excelled for Memphis as the NBA’s 2019 second-overall draft pick. He was named rookie of the year and became an All-Star for the first time last season.
The Grizzlies standout is currently 10th in scoring in the league, averaging 27.2 points per game, along with 6.2 rebounds and 8 assists per game.
The young star has also helped the Grizzlies achieve a 23-13 record this season, placing them a half-game ahead of New Orleans in the Southwest standings.
The 6-foot, 2-inch former Murray State star has become known for his high-flying dunks and continues to be mentioned in the early discussion as the league’s most valuable player for the 2022-2023 season.