Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant is back in the news for all the wrong reasons this weekend. The troubled star was once again seen on social media with what appeared to be a handgun. As a Ja Morant suspension looms, let’s take a look at how the situation affects upcoming betting markets.
Betting Impact of Ja Morant Suspension
There is no denying Ja Morant’s status as one of the most skilled players in the league. But he has now developed a terrible reputation for off-court demons and it is now unclear when (or if) he will take the floor again for the Grizzlies. This reality has a ton of impact on both the future of Morant and the Grizzlies organization.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Sunday that Morant is possibly facing a “lengthy” suspension from the league after his latest misstep.
“We are aware of the social media post involving Ja Morant and are in the process of gathering more information,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement Sunday, per ESPN.
Morant entered the 2022-23 season as one of the favorites to win the NBA MVP (+1300 at FanDuel Sportsbook). Those odds put him behind just Luka Doncic (+450), Giannis Antetokounmpo (+700), Joel Embiid (+700) and Nikola Jokic (+1000). He was tied at +1300 with Jayson Tatum.
The Grizzlies (+2100) were also in the upper echelon of NBA championship favorites before the year. Bettors looking for all the best value throughout the remainder of the NBA Playoffs and into the offseason can use OddsShopper tools to find the best odds on all upcoming wagers!
Morant was limited to 61 games this season after being suspended for a handful of games in the aftermath of an initial handgun video. He insisted the time away from the court help him get the necessary help he needed to make sure these instances did not occur in the future. But now, those sentiments seem to be inauthentic.
He still dominated on the court, scoring 26.2 points per game to go along with a career-high 8.2 assists. He likely would have finished higher than 13th place for the MVP had it not been for the suspension. Morant finished in seventh place in 2021-22.
Although Morant returned and impressed during the playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, it was not enough to fend off elimination in six games. The 23-year-old figured to be the central piece for the front office to build around this offseason in order to get over the hump. But now, all those plans have to be questioned.
The Grizzlies have been able to win 37 of 61 games (60.6%) without Morant over the past four years, but they will struggle to consistently compete with the league’s best without Morant playing the role of alpha. With the latest social media video, Morant is not only putting his future in jeopardy but also the future of the Grizzlies organization.
Expect the Grizzlies to be listed in the middle of the pack when the 2024 NBA Championship betting odds are initially released. Those lines will be subject to change as we get more information on the Ja Morant suspension throughout the offseason.
