Ja Morant has been suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season. The punishment will likely sideline Morant until early December. Subsequently, Morant issued a statement apologizing for his actions. “I’m spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision making. I’m also going to be training so that I’m ready to go when I can be back on the court," the statement said in part. However, some have met his words with skepticism.
Morant's suspension, which stems from an incident in May in which Morant flashed a gun on Instagram Live, has also caught the attention of the sneaker world. Days after the incident, Nike removed any trace of Morant's various sneakers from their website. However, about a week later, Morant's "Ja 1 Hunger" sold out in minutes. Now that Morant has been formally punished, Nike has also commented on where they stand with the player.
Nike Backs Morant
Nike officially voiced their support for Morant in the hours after his suspension was revealed. “We are pleased that Ja is taking accountability and prioritizing his well-being. We will continue to support him on and off the court," the company said in a statement shared by ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. Nike has been Morant's official shoe partner since his 2019 debut. Furthermore, Morant's initial contract with Nike was reportedly worth somewhere in the region of $12 million.
However, Nike's response has not been well-received by a number of fans. Some have pointed to the fact that Nike dropped Kyrie Irving after his anti-Semitism scandal. This is being compared to Morant's numerous off-court issues over the past year. Others pointed out that the statement was likely cover for Nike to avoid admitting that Morant is simply too profitable of a brand to cut ties with. Do you think Nike was right to stick with Morant? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports and sneakers news here at HotNewHipHop.
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