Lawsuit Accusing Ja Morant of Punching 17-Year-Old Dismissed

Ja Morant scored a legal victory in his lawsuit centered on an alleged punching incident circa 2022. A Tennessee judge has determined that Morant, a point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies, was acting in self-defense and dismissed the suit.

The judge's decision is in line with what he was reported to have argued just over a year ago where he cited the the state’s legal stance on self-defense. At the time, a lawyer for the accuser, who was reportedly 17 at the time of the alleged incident, signaled that their legal action would continue regardless of their disappointment with the judge’s call.

Both Morant and another individual were named in the suit from Josh Holloway, who now plays for Samford. Per a report from the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Shelby County Circuit Judge Carol Chumney ruled Monday that Morant can’t be sued over the alleged incident, which is said to have occurred during a pickup game in 2022.

Chumney’s ruling included mention of Morant and Holloway’s respective basketball careers, with the judge stating that “each have unique opportunities to inspire youth and demonstrate mature leadership.”

Key to this latest development, per reports, is that Holloway, in the judge’s opinion, did not adequately prove that Morant’s actions weren’t carried out in self-defense, with witnesses saying that the 2022 incident began with Holloway hitting the accused Grizzlies star in the face with a basketball. That throw, according to Chumney’s ruling, was “calculated to hit” Morant.

Morant has argued that he was acting in self-defense from the very beginning of the legal dispute. When word of the suit first broke in January 2023, a spokesperson for the Shelby County District Attorney’s office confirmed to Complex that it previously declined to move forward with a case.

“The DA’s office is aware of the incident, and after careful review of the facts, decided that there was not enough evidence to proceed with a case,” the rep told Complex at the time. “We cannot comment on a pending lawsuit.”

Complex has reached out to reps for Morant for comment. This story may be updated.

Thursday night, the Grizzlies will play the Oklahoma City Thunder at the FedExForum in Memphis. Earlier this week, OKC beat Memphis 118-99 in Game 2.