Ja Morant Reveals Real Meaning Behind His New Celebration
Ja Morant Reveals Real Meaning Behind His New Celebration
Ja Morant, the talented Memphis Grizzlies guard, has once again found himself at the center of controversy due to his on-court celebrations. During a recent road game against the Charlotte Hornets in early April 2025, Morant debuted a new celebration that appeared to mimic throwing a grenade into the crowd. This celebration quickly gained attention across social media platforms and sports networks.
The controversial gesture was highlighted during the Grizzlies’ nationally televised game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum on April 10, 2025. After hitting a three-pointer over Julius Randle to give Memphis a 27-26 lead in the first quarter, Morant performed the celebration again, which TNT captured in slow motion for viewers nationwide.
When questioned about the celebration, Morant attempted to explain it away as “not what you think it is.” He claimed the motion represented him throwing his “words” out into the world, with the accompanying ear-covering gesture meant to symbolize “blocking out the noise.”
This explanation comes after Morant was recently fined $75,000 for making what was interpreted as a gun-related gesture during a previous game. His history with weapon-related controversies includes:
- A 25-game suspension for displaying a gun on Instagram Live
- Multiple incidents of questionable celebrations
- Ongoing criticism about his judgment and public image
Despite these controversies, Morant’s on-court performance remains impressive. In the Timberwolves matchup, he scored 36 points with 6 assists, though Minnesota still secured a 141-125 victory behind Anthony Edwards’ remarkable 44-point performance on just 19 shots.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
