Ja Morant Testifies In Court Says He Punched Teen In Self-Defense

Ja Morant testifies that he punched a teen during an altercation at his home last year in self-defense while also demonstrating to an attorney how to check a ball in a pickup basketball game. The Memphis Grizzlies superstar did it all before a judge in Tennessee as part of Joshua Holloway's civil case against him. Holloway claims in the lawsuit that Morant assaulted him while the two were hoopin' at the NBA player's Shelby County residence in July 2022 though Morant and his attorneys say the suit should be dismissed, claiming Ja was simply attempting to protect himself during the incident. Morant told Holloway's attorney he was physically "hurt" when the teenager threw a ball at his face during a check situation. Morant said in the courtroom that he asked Holloway, "What you on?" after the teen heaved the ball and then he claimed Holloway pulled up his shorts. "Him pulling up his shorts," Morant testified, "where I'm from, that's a fighting stance." Morant claimed Holloway then took a step at him and that's when the NBA player fired off a punch. "I hit him first," Morant said, "to protect myself."