SALT LAKE CITY—Saying he had discovered his lesson following his suspensions by the NBA for 2 incidents wherein he brandished firearms, a reformed Ja Morant instructed reporters Wednesday that he was far more into swords now. “I did some soul-searching throughout my time away from the sport, and I spotted weapons shouldn’t have any place in my life when swords look sick as hell and by no means get jammed or run out of ammo,” the Grizzlies level guard stated earlier than his group’s season opener in opposition to the Jazz, resting a large 3.1-shaku ōdachi over his shoulder as he defined that whereas his predominant precedence can be “large ass” swords like claymores and zweihänders, all edged weapons—from shamshirs and falchions to kunai and kukris—would catch the attention of him going ahead. “Proudly owning weapons made me a legal responsibility to my group, however proudly owning a rapier and parrying dagger combo will let me effortlessly redirect opponents’ assaults whereas focusing on gaps of their armor. That’s a lot cooler than simply blasting someone. Due to my followers and my new sponsors at [sword and knife retailer] Chilly Metal for serving to me flip this nook in my life.” At press time, Morant had acquired a 25-game suspension after an Instagram video confirmed him intoxicated and performing the forbidden Whirlwind Slash approach outdoors a Salt Lake Metropolis nightclub.
