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Ja Morant was involved in an incident during a pickup basketball game at his house in July 2022. The Grizzlies star player testified in a lawsuit, arguing that he hit a teenager in self-defense.
Morant told the court that a teenager hit him in the face with a one-handed basketball pass at close range, adding that he subsequently punched the teen once in the face.
Morant said on the stand that the teen bumped him in the chest, balled his fists, and got into a fighting stance.
The lawsuit was filed by Joshua Holloway, who was 17 when the brief fight erupted at a basketball game on a court located at the Memphis-area home of the NBA All-Star’s parents.
Holloway, now 18, accuses Morant and his close friend Davonte Pack of assault, reckless endangerment, abuse or neglect, and infliction of emotional distress.
Morant, 24, has said that he and Pack each punched Holloway once and that Pack’s blow sent Holloway to the ground.
Morant described his version of the incident, citing that Holloway threw a hard, one-handed pass with his right arm that hit the NBA star on the left side of his chin. Morant said he had his hands down and was surprised by the forceful pass.
After he was hit in the face, Morant asked Holloway, “What you on?” a phrase that Morant said meant: “What did you do that for?”
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Holloway said nothing and did not apologize, Morant testified. The two then walked towards each other and stood chest-to-chest before Holloway shoulder-bumped Morant, pulled up his shorts by the waist, and balled his fists, which Morant interpreted as a fighting stance.
“I thought he was about to hit me, so I swung first,” Morant said.
After Morant’s punch landed on Holloway’s face, Pack then punched Holloway once in the head, knocking the teen to the ground, Morant said. Holloway was escorted from the court by former NBA player Mike Miller.
Morant ultimately admitted that he could have reacted differently. Morant’s attorneys argued that he acted in self-defense when he punched Holloway. It was the first time the Grizzlies star spoke comprehensively about the incident in public.
The hearing continues Tuesday. No criminal charges have been filed against Morant. Pack was charged with misdemeanor assault in July, but that charge has since been dropped.
