Ja Morant’s Lawyers Say He Acted in Self-Defense in Assault of Teen

A Memphis judge ruled Wednesday that Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant and his legal team can proceed with their argument that the two-time All-Star acted in self-defense when he punched a teenager during a pickup basketball game at his home in July 2022.

Morant’s lawyers have acknowledged that Morant punched Joshua Holloway, who was 17 at the time, once in the chin after Holloway threw a basketball at Morant, arguing that Morant should not be liable under Tennessee’s “stand your ground” law, per the Associated Press. The law permits people to act with force in situations when they feel threatened at their homes.

Holloway filed the lawsuit against Morant when he was 17, and he has since turned 18. He has accused Morant and his friend, Davonte Pack, of assault, reckless endangerment, abuse or neglect, and infliction of emotional distress. Morant filed a countersuit against Holloway in April for damaging the NBA star’s reputation and potentially costing him millions in endorsement deals and his contract.

Rebecca Adelman, the attorney representing Holloway, argued in court that the “stand your ground” argument came too late in the process and is not applicable to a civil case, describing the tactic as a “Hail Mary of Hail Marys.”

Judge Carol Chumney issued a stay on the case and set a hearing for Oct. 12.

Morant was suspended for 25 games in June after he was seen holding a gun in a video that was shared on Instagram Live. It was the second gun-related incident of the year for which he was disciplined by the league. He previously brought a gun into a Denver nightclub, which resulted in an eight-game suspension.