NBA Star Ja Morant's Off-Court Drama Deepens with Subpoena in Civil Lawsuit

NBA star Ja Morant's off court drama lives on as he has been issued a subpoena to appear and testify in an upcoming court hearing for a civil lawsuit that dates back to mid-2022.

The lawsuit accuses the Memphis Grizzlies star of assaulting a teenager during a pickup basketball game at Morant's home in July 2022.

According to court filings obtained by ESPN, Morant, along with his father Tee, mother Jamie, and close friend Davonte Pack, have all been issued subpoenas to appear and testify in the civil lawsuit. Subpoenas were also issued for four members of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office who investigated the altercation.

An immunity hearing is scheduled to begin on Dec. 11 at the Shelby Couty Circuit Court in Memphis. Morant's lawyers will be seeking to have the case dismissed arguing that he was acting in self-defense for punching Joshua Holloway, then 17, after Holloway hit Morant in the chin with a basketball. It's expected that the hearing will last through at least Dec. 13, with a trial possibly beginning around April 2024.

Ja Morant's appearance in court will come only a little more than a week before he is eligible to return to the court after being suspended for 25-games for flashing a gun during an Instagram Live in May. This suspension followed his eight-game suspension for the same issue of brandishing a firearm during an Instagram Live in March.

Morant was scheduled to be deposed and answer questions about the altercation under oath this past summer before a judge issued a stay in the case when Morant's attorneys looked to have the case dismissed using the "stand your ground" law in the state of Tennessee.

As the countdown to Morant's big return to the court gets closer to Dec. 19, one former NBA star thinks fans may have to wait a little longer.

During a recent episode of "Gil's Arena," former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas discussed the possibility of Morant making his return on his home court as opposed to on the road.

"He ain't coming home on the road. Dec. 19, you might as well take that f------ game off TNT," Arenas said. "We not playing against the Pelicans. No. You gotta come to Memphis. Indiana Pacers, you better make that the TNT game."

Arenas continued to say that it would be smarter for Morant to have his first game back on his own home court.

"If Ja is smart, Ja is coming home. NBA, y'all can beg this man all you want, but you're already on his bad side. He's gonna play at home," Arenas continued. "If it's me, I'm playing at home in front of my reporters. I'm not gonna play my first game back from suspension on the road."

While what Arenas was sharing is purely his own thoughts and not necessarily a prediction, it's an interesting take on what could be.

Although, many others feel it's not likely Morant will delay his return considering he hasn't played this season and has been working hard and practicing with his team to ensure he's ready to go as soon as he's eligible.