All-NBA Snub Costs Grizzlies Star Ja Morant To Miss Out On $39 Million Bonus
Ja Morant drives to the basket against the Chicago Bulls
Getty Images
By: Omar Cook
Despite averaging leading Memphis to a top playoff seed, averaging 26 points, 8 assists, nearly 6 rebounds, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant did not secure a spot in any of the three All-NBA teams announced on Wednesday, May 10. Unfortunately, for the Grizzlies star this snub will have significant financial implications, ultimately resulting in the loss of $39 million for Morant. $39 million is crazy, doesn’t matter who you are.
Last year, Morant inked a five-year designated rookie max extension with the Grizzlies worth $192.2 million. However, he missed out on the chance to earn up to $231.4 million, which is 30% of the salary cap, as he was not named to any All-NBA teams this year.
Morant only received 10 second-team votes and 14 third-team votes on the 100 ballots, leaving him significantly short of securing an All-NBA recognition.
Morant was handed an eight-game suspension by the NBA in March after he shared a video on Instagram Live in which he brandished a handgun at a nightclub in Denver. Which opens up the question, is this a way for the league to punish Morant for his behavior?
There’s certainly been some speculation amongst fans that the NBA blackballed Morant from the All-NBA team but there is also a lesson to be learned here. Morant as a star in the NBA has to know that image is everything, and while he may be having harmless fun like we’ve all had in our 20s, the league may not see it the same way.
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