Ja Morant admits he made a ‘bad mistake’ when he posed on Instagram with a gun at a strip club

Ja Morant admits he made a ‘bad mistake’ when he posed on Instagram with a gun at a strip club in Colorado – and reveals the firearm was NOT his as he vows to become a better role model

Ja Morant has spoken publicly for the first time since he was seen brandishing a gun at a Denver-area strip club, acknowledging he made a ‘bad mistake’ and has spoken to therapists while away from the team.

Morant last played for the Grizzlies on March 3, and was suspended by the league Wednesday for eight games without pay – with the five he’s missed so far counted in the suspension.

While it’s not immediately clear when Morant will return to the court, he spoke about his actions to ESPN in an interview with Jalen Rose. 

‘The gun wasn’t mine,’ Morant told Rose in the interview, which is set to air in full on Wednesday night. 

‘It’s not who I am. I don’t condone any type of violence. But I take full responsibility for my actions. I made a bad mistake.’

Rose also asked Morant if he ‘takes pride in being a role model,’ to which the Memphis superstar said, ‘I do. I realize I have a lot of kids who look up to me. Even probably some adults. I realize my past mistakes isn’t being a good role model.’

The full interview with Ja Morant and Jalen Rose will air Wednesday night on SportsCenter

Ja Morant has been suspended for eight games after a meeting with NBA boss Adam Silver

Ja Morant has been suspended for eight games after a meeting with NBA boss Adam Silver

Morant appeared to hold up a gun in an Instagram Live video in the early hours of Saturday morning, March 4

Morant was dancing topless in a strip club

Morant appeared to hold up a gun in an Instagram Live video after a loss to the Nuggets

Morant added that – with the help of therapy, Reiki treatment and ‘anxiety breathing – he ‘feel[s] mentally good where I haven’t been in many years.’

In a press release published Wednesday, the NBA  ‘did not conclude that the gun at issue belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period.’ 

The release added they didn’t find that Morant ‘possessed the gun while traveling with the team or in any NBA facility.’

Morant made the trip up to New York City to meet with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after entering (and leaving) a counseling program in Florida.

However, while Morant is eligible to play as early as Monday, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins already has indicated that he’s not expected to play in that game, according Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

Before the incident at the strip club Morant was under fire after details emerged from a report over a lawsuit that stated Morant and an associated punched a teenager ’12-13 times’ after playing basketball at Morant’s home.

Furthermore, Morant and associates were also reported by the Washington Post to have had a run in with a security guard at a local mall that left the security guard fearing for his safety, after a member of the group mentioned waiting for the guard when he go off work.

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk