Police end investigation into Morant, gun without charges; he will remain away from team Watch Pau Gasol tear up as his number is retired by Lakers (next to Kobe’s) USA Basketball headed to Abu Dhabi for World Cup tune-up games Oubre Jr., Rozier spark Hornets upset to end Knicks nine-game winning streak Three things to Know: Breaking down East, West playoff chase
Glendale, Colorado police have completed their investigation into the Grizzlies star. I am Morant he apparently has a gun at the Shotgun Willies club in that city – as seen on Morant’s social media – but he did not find “enough evidence available to convict anyone of the crime.”
Press release pic.twitter.com/0OPnj3Vg0f
— Glendale County Police (@Glendale_PD_CO) March 8, 2023
According to the police, Colorado is an open carry state and there were no complaints from the club that night.
That doesn’t mean Morant is close to returning to the Grizzlies, but he will be out for at least four more games, the team announced.
Statement from the Memphis Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/B3gk6injgK
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) March 8, 2023
If Morant misses four more games, that would mean the earliest he can return is March 17 away to San Antonio.
The police investigation was started because Morant streamed himself in the club, apparently brandishing a firearm, on Instagram Live..
The end of the police investigation does not remove the danger for Moran.
The NBA is also investigating the situation, specifically whose weapon it is and how it got into the club. The NBA’s CBA does not allow a player to have a firearm on team property or while traveling on team business – if it’s Morant’s weapon and he brought it to Colorado on a team plane, he could face severe penalties from the league.
Even if he didn’t carry a gun, the NBA could have received a suspension in addition to being “away from” the Grizzlies (which doesn’t affect his salary). After this incident, Morant was out for two games, now he will miss at least six games, and maybe more.
“There’s no exact timeline yet,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said of Morant’s return over the weekend. “I mean, we said it would be at least two games, you know, we take them one day at a time. I mean it will be an ongoing healing process. So I can’t comment on the exact schedule because it’s really not a schedule.”
“I take full responsibility for my actions last night,” Morant said in a statement the day after the incident. “I apologize to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire organization for letting you down. I’m going to take some time off to get help and work on learning more effective ways to deal with stress and my general well-being.”
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The Lakers have clear jersey-rejection criteria: Did the powerful former Lakers make it into the Basketball Hall of Fame?
Pau Gasol has certainly been a big influence — he was pivotal to the Lakers’ championships in 2009 and 2010 — and he’s nominated in Hall’s class of 2023, and it’s hard to get there. Therefore, the Lakers retired his number 16, replacing it with the numbers of his close friend Kobe Bryant.
On February 1, 2008, Pau entered our lives and forever changed the hearts of the Lakers family.#Thank youPow pic.twitter.com/uk5DiEuXWQ
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 8, 2023
Poe Gasol’s speech at the retirement ceremony in a full T-shirt 💜💛#Thank youPow pic.twitter.com/RDIN0M3rzw
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2023
It was impossible to spend that night without Kobe’s shadow darkening the doorway a little, these two people are connected in the legends of the Lakers.
“I can’t go on without talking about a person and a face that I can’t see,” Gasol told the crowd at the Crypto.com Arena. “The brother who lifted me up, challenged me, inspired me to become a better player. Just to get better overall…
“I miss him. I miss him so much, as do many of us,” Gasol said. “I love him. I want him to be here with Gigi. I really do. But I think he will be proud. And he was looking forward to this moment. So I love you brother.”
This is an honor that cannot be bestowed on a better person.
Gasol’s resume is brilliant. He is a two-time NBA champion with the Lakers, four-time NBA All-Star, six-time All-Star, and 2002 Rookie of the Year. By the way, he has three Olympic medals (two silvers and one bronze) and carried the flag of Spain at the 2012 Olympics.
Now his name is joining the long list of amazing Lakers big men – Mikan, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, O’Neal – and Gasol deserves to be there with them.
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This summer, the US basketball team will play a couple of matches in Abu Dhabi on their way to the World Championship in the Philippines.
On Wednesday, the federation announced an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, under which the US will bring Germany and Greece there to host the Games in August.
The United States will host a three-game series, and it will be the first time the men’s national team has played in the United Arab Emirates. The Americans will play Greece on August 18 and Germany on August 20; Germany and Greece will play there on 19 August.
“USA Basketball is thrilled to be working with DCT Abu Dhabi to host the USA Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi,” said USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley. “This is the first time our men’s team will be playing in the UAE and we are excited to connect with fans from all over the world and offer our players and coaches an unforgettable experience on and off the court.”
The United States is ranked 2nd in the world by FIBA, Greece is 9th, and Germany is 11th. The Americans will announce their World Cup roster this summer before gathering in Las Vegas for a training camp led by Golden State coach Steve Kerr. and assistants Eric Spoelstra of Miami, Tyrone Liu of the Los Angeles Clippers, and Mark Few of Gonzaga.
“This summer in Abu Dhabi promises to be an unforgettable one and I am honored to host the first US Basketball Show in the UAE,” said Saleh Al Geziri, CEO of DCT Abu Dhabi Tourism.
Last year, the NBA played in Abu Dhabi for the first time, sending Milwaukee, including the Greek national team. Giannis Antetokounmpo, which could presumably be part of those matches — and Atlanta is there in October for a couple of preseason games. The NBA is planning two more preseason games in Abu Dhabi later this year, ahead of the 2023/24 season.
NBA and US basketball players return to the United Arab Emirates despite serious concerns about the human rights situation in the country. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has spoken many times about the value of “soft diplomacy” and promoting American culture through basketball, visiting places like Abu Dhabi or China for games.
This will be the second overseas exhibition weekend for the US on its way to the World Championships. Spanish officials announced earlier this year that the Americans, Slovenia and Spain, led by Luka Doncic, will play in Málaga from August 11 to 13 as part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Spanish national federation.
Spain, ranked No. 1 in the FIBA rankings and reigning world champions, will play seventh-placed Slovenia on 11 August. The USA and Slovenia will play on August 12, while the Americans will face Spain on August 13.
The World Championship will begin on August 25 and will last until September 10. The Games will be held in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan; The US will play all of its games in Manila.
The World Cup draw, when the 32 participating teams recognize their first opponents, will take place on 29 April.
Here’s More About This Summer’s World Cup
Source: nba.nbcsports.com
