Ja Morant Takes The Stand In Assault Case Claiming 'Self-Defense'

One week before his much-anticipated return to the basketball court, NBA star Ja Morant is in court.

The Memphis Grizzlies star took the stand on Monday in the civil suit against Joshua Holloway claiming he punched the then 17-year-old in self-defense during an altercation at his home in July 2022. This immunity hearing offers Morant the chance to have the case dismissed by proving he acted in self-defense.

Morant's lawyers argue that he is immune from liability under Tennessee's "stand your ground" law. The law allows people who feel threatened at their homes to act with force in certain situations.

During the first day of the immunity hearing at Shelby County Circuit Court on Monday, Morant said he "swung first" at Holloway to protect himself during an altercation that occurred during a pickup basketball game at Morant's Memphis-area home. Morant testified that Holloway, allegedly frustrated that he lost several games, threw a one-handed pass at Morant and the ball hit him in the left side of his face.

According to ESPN, Holloway's attorney, Rebecca Adelman, asked Morant during the cross-examination part of his testimony, "You testified that this basketball was a weapon, yes?" Morant replied, "Yes." She then asked, "A lethal weapon?" to which he replied, "It hurt."

Morant testified that during the altercation, he asked Holloway, "What you on?" and that Holloway didn't reply but instead pulled up his shorts. "Him pulling up his shorts, where I'm from, that's a fighting stance," Morant then said.

Morant said that Holloway then took a step toward him and he stepped forward and punched Holloway.

"I hit him first - to protect myself," Morant said.

Morant's father, Tee Morant, also testified on Monday and said that his son held pickup games often at his home. Tee said Morant and Holloway were guarding each other and trash-talking during the game. Tee is expected to resume testifying on Tuesday morning when the hearing continues.

Other family members and witnesses of the altercation are expected to testify, as well as law enforcement officials who investigated the incident. The hearing is expected to last several days with a trial beginning in April 2024.

During opening arguments, Adelman brought up Morant's off-court issues and his "propensity for risk-taking behavior." Morant's attorney objected, saying it is "totally inappropriate."

Adelman said, "We're in this court. We're not on a basketball court. In this court, we're all equal. Nobody's above the law."

She also showed some of Morant's basketball highlights to demonstrate the strength of his arm and the "type of force" that came at her client. She claims that Holloway didn't throw the ball at Morant's face in a menacing way.

Morant testified that he heard Holloway yell, "I'm going to light this place up like a firework show," as he was leaving the property, leaving Morant to think he's referring to "guns."

The NBA star also demonstrated how a check ball works with a basketball to recreate the incident. Morant explained that he had rarely, if ever, been hit with a ball during a check ball situation.

When Adelman asked Morant if he would apologize to Holloway if he was in the courtroom, Morant replied, "Probably not. I was protecting myself."

The countdown to the end of Morant's 25-game suspension is winding down as the Grizzlies star is expected to return to the court on Tuesday, Dec. 19 when his team faces the New Orleans Pelicans.

After his second incident of flashing a firearm during an Instagram Live this year, Morant was suspended for 25 games. NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently spoke about the process of Morant returning to the court.

"I have been monitoring the situation closely, and him. In fact, we intend to have a check-in this week directly, Ja and I," Silver said. "But folks in the league office, together with Ja and his team and the Players Association, have been in regular contact, essentially weekly. There have been those checkpoints."

Silver also said that they've "laid out a program for him over the last several weeks" and as far as he knows, Morant has "complied with everything he's been asked to do."

"As I said, we'll talk at least once this week before he comes back, and we will review the program and make sure the conditions are in place for him to be successful going forward," Silver continued.

Morant recently teased his return on social media, getting fans hyped up for his long-awaited 2023-2024 season debut game.

He also commented on a recent post on Instagram by Shot by Nie about his return, simply writing, "Dec. 19."