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Colorado police say no charges to be filed against Ja Morant | TribLIVE.com
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Colorado police say no charges to be filed against Ja Morant

Associated Press
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AP
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant reacts as the team trails the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 3.
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Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant reacts after sinking a three-point shot against the Houston Rockets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 1, in Houston. That aggressive style of play helped skyrocket the 23-year-old guard to a meteoric rise to NBA stardom. But his aggressive approach to basketball seemingly has spilled over into his off-court lifestyle putting him on the sidelines.
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Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins listens to a question about Ja Morant during a news conference before an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday, March 5, in Los Angeles. Morant is promising to get help after live streaming himself holding what appeared to be a gun at a nightclub.
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AP
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant looks to the bench during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, March 3, in Denver. That aggressive style of play helped skyrocket the 23-year-old guard to a meteoric rise to NBA stardom. But his aggressive approach to basketball seemingly has spilled over into his off-court lifestyle putting him on the sidelines.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will not face charges in Colorado related to the livestreamed video is which he appeared to be displaying a gun in a strip club, police said Wednesday.

The Glendale Police Department said it looked into the video, which was a stream that Morant showed on his Instagram channel while he seemed to be holding a firearm, and found no proof that a crime was committed. Glendale is an enclave surrounded by the city of Denver.

“In this case, it should be noted that on the night in question the GPD did not receive any calls for service at the nightclub regarding a weapon of any type,” police said. “Subsequently, no disturbances were reported, and no citizens of patrons of the club came forward to make a complaint.

“The investigation also concluded that no one was threatened or menaced with the firearm and in fact no firearm was ever located.”

The NBA has said it is also looking into the matter, and has not announced any sanctions — such as a suspension — against Morant.

Police said the investigation confirmed that “the incident” — Morant was not named in the release, which only made reference to “a prominent NBA player” — occurred at an establishment called Shotgun Willies in Glendale. The two-time All-Star streamed the video in the early hours of Saturday, after the Grizzlies played in Denver on Friday night.

The Grizzlies said Morant would be away from the team for at least two games — those were Sunday and Tuesday — and Morant later said that he decided “to take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being.”

It is not clear what that means. Morant has not commented further and the Grizzlies have not shared what steps he is taking or why he is seeking help.

Memphis plays host to Golden State on Thursday.

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