Ja Morant takes stand, says he punched teen in self-defense - ESPN

Testifying for the first time in a lawsuit roughly one week before he is expected to return from a 25-game NBA suspension, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant took the stand Monday in Memphis and said he acted in self-defense when he punched a teenager at his home in July 2022.

Morant, testifying during the first day of an immunity hearing at Shelby County Circuit Court, said he «swung first» at Joshua Holloway, then 17, «to protect myself» during an altercation that led to Holloway filing a lawsuit in September 2022 that accused Morant of assault.

The altercation, which attorneys representing both sides questioned Morant about at great length, came during a pickup basketball game at Morant's Memphis-area home after Holloway, allegedly frustrated by losing several games, was accused of throwing a one-handed pass at Morant during a check ball situation. The ball hit Morant in the left side of his face, Morant testified Monday.

«You testified that this basketball was a weapon, yes?» Morant was asked by Holloway's attorney, Rebecca Adelman, during the cross-examination part of his testimony.

«Yes,» Morant replied.

«A lethal weapon?» she asked.

«It hurt,» Morant said.

Morant testified that during the altercation, he asked Holloway, «What you on?» Then, Morant said, 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 said.

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

«I hit him first — to protect myself,» Morant said.

After that blow, Morant's close friend Davonte Pack, who also was in court on Monday, punched Holloway.

The lawsuit has dragged through the legal system for more than a year, and Pack,