In a legal victory for Ja Morant, a judge in Tennessee ruled on Monday that the Memphis Grizzlies’ standout acted in self-defense when he punched a teenager at his home in July 2022, as per a document obtained by ESPN.
This ruling follows a civil immunity hearing held in December 2023 in Memphis. During the hearing, Morant testified that he threw the first punch at Joshua Holloway, who was 17 at the time, to protect himself during an altercation. Holloway had filed a lawsuit in September 2022 accusing Morant of assault.
The altercation occurred during a casual basketball game. Allegedly, Holloway, frustrated by losing multiple games, threw a pass at Morant during a check-ball moment, which struck Morant in the face. Morant claimed that Holloway then advanced towards him, prompting Morant to react by punching him.
Following Morant’s punch, his friend Davonte Pack also punched Holloway. Pack was later arrested for misdemeanor assault, although the charge against him was ultimately dismissed.
In the recent filing, Shelby County Circuit Judge Carol Chumney stated that Morant is presumed to have civil immunity under Tennessee’s self-defense statute. The burden of proof now falls on Holloway and his legal team to demonstrate that Morant did not act in self-defense.
Although a trial was slated to commence in late April, it’s anticipated to be rescheduled for a later date.
Rebecca Adelman, attorney for Holloway, expressed disappointment, affirming their commitment to advocating for Joshua.
Morant’s legal representatives have yet to respond to requests for comment.
This lawsuit has shadowed Morant throughout the 2023-24 season, which was fraught with difficulties. It began with Morant serving a 25-game suspension imposed by the NBA for behavior considered detrimental to the league.
This suspension stemmed from a video circulating on social media in May 2023, showing Morant wielding a firearm. Previously, he had been suspended for eight games in March 2023 after posting an Instagram Live video wherein he displayed a handgun at a Denver nightclub. Morant publicly apologized for both incidents.
Upon his return from the 25-game suspension in December 2023, Morant, a two-time All-Star and the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year, played only nine games before sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury. His absence, coupled with injuries to several teammates, derailed what had initially been a promising season for the Grizzlies, who had finished the previous season with the second-best record in the Western Conference.
As of now, the Grizzlies hold a record of 27-51, ranking third-worst in the Western Conference.
