The NBA has confirmed that unnamed individuals have been banned from the FedExForum in Memphis for one year following an incident during the Grizzlies' Jan. 29 game against Indiana.
As reported by The Associated Press, Memphis star Ja Morant tweeted Sunday that a friend of his was one of those banned as a result of a confrontation between Morant's supporters and members of the Pacers organization.
Citing unnamed sources, The Indianapolis Star reported that multiple members of the Pacers saw a red dot pointed at them, and The Athletic reported that a Pacers security guard believed the laser was attached to a gun. However, the NBA's investigation found no evidence that anyone was threatened with a weapon during the incident.
“NBA Security and league investigators conducted an investigation interviewing numerous eyewitnesses and reviewing video surveillance following allegations made by the Indiana Pacers organization regarding a postgame incident on Jan. 29,"NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in an emailed statement, as reported by The Associated Press. "While we substantiated that a postgame situation arose that was confrontational, based on interviews and other evidence gathered, we could not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon.
“Certain individuals involved in the postgame situation and a related matter during the game that night have been subsequently banned from attending games in the arena. If additional information becomes available related to the postgame situation, the league office will conduct a further review."
Before Sunday's game against Toronto, in which Morant sat out with wrist soreness, he tweeted that reports about the incident “paint this negative image on me and my fam. & banned my brother from home games for a year. unbelievable.”
During the Jan. 29 game, there was barking between Pacers players and friends of Morant seated along the sideline. A close friend of Morant’s, Davonte Pack, was escorted from the arena as Pacers bench players shouted in Pack’s direction.The talking reportedly continued into the players’ parking area after the game.
