Memphis Grizzlies GM Believes Ja Morant's Suspension 'Is Appropriate'

"No room for step backs."

Zach Kleiman, Memphis Grizzlies general manager and president of basketball operations, spoke about Ja Morant's suspension on Thursday night after the NBA Draft. He is the first team official to openly discuss the topic of Morant's 25-game suspension.

When Kleiman spoke publicly about Morant, 23, after the season ended, he sounded hopeful that the NBA player learned from his 8-game suspension in March. Shortly after Kleiman spoke with hope about Morant, the second Instagram Live gun video surfaced. This time around, the tone is different.

Kleiman said that the latest IG Live gun incident is just part of a pattern of "problematic behavior" for the Grizzlies star, who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2019 and Rookie of the Year in 2020.

"We're certainly disappointed with the behavior that transpired as we got in the offseason. The discipline from the NBA, I think, is appropriate," Kleiman said on Thursday.

"The thing to focus on at this point, and there's ongoing discussion now with the league, the union and Ja's representatives: What's Ja going to admit to going forward? What are the steps he's prepared to take for the NBA to grant the ability to rejoin the team after the suspension?"

While Kleiman also clarified that the organization is in contact with open dialogue with Morant and there is no strain in their relationship, it's time for the Grizzlies star to prove his words with his actions.

"Couldn't care less about words. Ja ha to prove it. It's easy to say the right things," he said. "We're going to continue to pour into him, we're going to continue to hold him to account for everything that he's doing day-to-day. It's on him to follow through, but he's going to have every opportunity to do so."

Morant was on a two steps forward one step back kind of road in the past so this time around, the organization is expecting better.

"There's no room for steps back at this point," Kleiman said. "He has the opportunity to come back from this. Everyone wants him to be successful, believes in him to be successful. It's on Ja."

The NBPA recently issued a statement regarding Morant's 25-game suspension.

"Ja has expressed his remorse and accepted responsibility for his actions, and we support him unequivocally as he does whatever is necessary to represent himself, our players, and our league in the best possible light," Tamika Tremaglio, NBPA Executive Director, said in a statement.

"As to the discipline imposed, which keeps him off the court until December and requires some unstated conditions to be met before he can return, we believe it is excessive and inappropriate for several reasons, including the facts involved in this particular incident, and that it is not fair and consistent with past discipline in our league. We will explore with Ja all options and next steps."

It's expected that the NBPA will file an appeal in the hopes of getting the length of Morant's suspension reduced or to at least provide more clarity on the goals that he must reach before he can return to the court.

According to CBS Sports, Morant has 30 days to challenge the suspension by filing a grievance with the league office.