The NBA is currently investigating Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant after he made a gun gesture during Tuesday night’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Morant, who has been previously suspended multiple times for gun-related incidents on social media, performed the gesture several times throughout the game, typically directed at defenders or as part of his celebration after hitting a 3-pointer.

The controversy escalated when Warriors guard Buddy Hield, mocking Morant, mimicked the gun gesture back at him. Morant responded by making the gesture toward the Warriors bench, accompanied by some trash talk. Both players received technical fouls for the exchange, and the NBA is also investigating Hield’s actions.

While the gun gesture is not explicitly banned in the NBA rulebook, it has raised concerns due to Morant’s previous suspensions. The 24-year-old was suspended for eight games in the 2022-23 season after posting a video on Instagram Live showing a gun at a strip club in Colorado. Despite promising NBA Commissioner Adam Silver that he had learned from the incident, Morant was later seen with a gun on Instagram again, this time in a car with a friend, leading to a 25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 season.

Although other NBA players have used similar gestures to celebrate 3-pointers, the league may take a more serious stance due to Morant’s history. If the NBA takes action, it would align with the NFL’s past efforts to penalize players for similar “finger gun” celebrations, suggesting a potential shift in how the league handles such behaviors.

The NBA’s decision on whether to penalize Morant further for this latest incident remains under investigation