Adam Silvercommissioner of the NBA, reported this Thursday at a press conference that the result of the open investigation into Ja Morantstar of the Memphis Grizzlies, for his video with a weapon published on social networks in mid-May will be known after the closing of the Finals, which started in Denver with the duel between the Nuggets and the Heat.
Silver stressed that the focus at this time should be on the Nuggets and the Heat and on a Finals that will be broadcast in 214 countries and in 60 languages and that the time will come to make decisions on the Morant case.
“We are evaluating the individual history of the player and the seriousness of his conduct. These are factors that are taken into account. For the times we have made the decision that it would be incorrect for these teams, in the middle of the series, to announce the result of the investigation.affirmed Silver in the press conference prior to the start of the Finals.
“He is suspended indefinitely by the Grizzlies. It seems better to park it momentarily and shortly after the closing of the Finals we will announce what it is all about “he added.
He also considered that the first eight-game suspension inflicted on the player, who had already appeared in a video on social networks in a Colorado nightclub weeks before the second case, was not too light.
“To me, at the time, an eight-game suspension seemed very serious. I think he had understood that it had to be seen in his future conduct. We want to be correct. It seemed correct to us at the time. In the video it looks like she did it again. We don’t know what it will take to change their behavior.”said. “He seems like a good boy. He is young. When we complete the process, we will take the disciplinary action.”he concluded.
Silver remembered Bill Russell, NBA legend, eleven-time champion with the Boston Celtics, who died last August at the age of 88, shaking the world of basketball.
He also considered it appropriate that the minimum number of games is 65 for a player to be eligible for season prizes. A third of the players on that team would not have been eligible this year if that rule were in place, and Silver said that move would encourage many players to compete more.