Morant changes 3-point celebration to pretend grenade toss in light of league fines and warnings

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant got in trouble again for aiming an imaginary gun to celebrate 3-pointers, so he has gone to a different make-believe violent way to mark a long-distance shot.

The Memphis Grizzlies leading scorer, who was fined $75,000 recently for mimicking pointing a long gun after a basket from outside the arc, acted like he was pulling the pin and tossing a grenade in Thursday night's 141-125 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Morant, who was 5 of 13 from 3-point range, in some cases even covered his ears after the windmill-like hurl of the invisible explosive.

"That's my celebration now until somebody else has a problem with it, and I'll find another one," Morant said after Thursday's shootaround.

The league handed down the $75,000 fine on April 4 after Morant twice made what was considered an “inappropriate” imaginary gun-aiming gesture on the court. He was previously warned by the league office that this gesture could be interpreted in a negative light.

The gestures that drew the fine were made by Morant during the Grizzlies’ 110-108 victory over the Miami Heat on April 3, but it first drew the league's attention in an April 1 home game against the Golden State Warriors.

That led to the investigation and the warning before Morant did it again against Miami.

The fine was the culmination of several questionable incidents involving firearms. Morant was suspended for 25 games at the start of the 2023-24 season after he was seen on video waving a gun in a car. He previously was suspended eight games after he was seen with a gun in a Denver-area nightspot.

“I wasn't surprised,” Morant said of the latest fine, “just for showing people what's pretty much been evident for the last two years.”

Teammate Vince Williams Jr. wasn't really surprised by the change in celebration, adding “I would have went to that too.”

“It's good for him,” Williams said. “He gets to save his money. Anything that benefits him saving his money, I'm all for it, honestly.”

But the grenade celebration drew criticism from the TNT studio crew on Thursday night. Kenny Smith noted that Morant “has a history that maybe he shouldn't be doing that.”

Shaquille O'Neal added: “He knows what he's doing because y'all are going to keep talking about it.”

As for Charles Barkley, he said the happiest person may be former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, fired March 28 because “he ain't got to deal with this immature stuff.”

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, front right, drives ahead of Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, back right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) handles the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo, left, talks with guard Ja Morant, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — The Byron Nelson has resumed after a six-hour weather delay with Scottie Scheffler halfway through his second round and still holding the two-shot lead that the hometown favorite had to start the day.

Play was halted Friday morning shortly after Scheffler made a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole to get to 12-under and break a tie with another University of Texas alum, Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela.

The event was stopped because of lightning before drenching, hours-long rain hit the TPC Craig Ranch course for the second time in three days.

Scheffler opened with a 10-under 61 on Thursday and had parred his first eight holes of the second round starting on the back nine. His approach on 18 landed within a few feet of the pin and settled above the hole.

Patton Kizzire and Will Gordon, who both opened with 64s, were 2 under for the day and three shots behind Scheffler when the weather delay hit.

Rico Hoey, the early first-round leader who was tied with Vegas at 8 under to start the second round, had an afternoon tee time. Defending champion Taylor Pendrith was 2 over for the day through eight holes and 2 under for tournament and in danger of missing the cut.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Scottie Scheffler stands on the 16th green during the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)