The NBA’s decision to fine Morant $75,000 after multiple gun gestures led to the Memphis Grizzlies guard changing his 3-point celebration to one in which he mimics throwing a grenade. According to Morant, that’s the celebration fans can get used to seeing for the time being.
‘That’s my celebration now until somebody else got a problem with it, and I’ll find another one,’ Morant said at Thursday’s shootaround, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Morant used the celebration, where he mimics pulling the pin on a grenade, throwing it into the stands and then covering his ears, in Thursday night’s 141-125 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Smith and Barkley reacted to Morant’s new celebration on the ‘NBA on TNT’ show.
‘He has a history that maybe he should leave the celebrations where people might die alone,’ Smith said.
Said Barkley: ‘I know one person’s happy right now. Taylor Jenkins ain’t got to deal with this crap.’
The Grizzlies fired Jenkins as head coach with less than a month remaining in the regular season.
Asked Thursday about his reaction to the fines, Morant smiled, paused and then said: ‘You really want to know? I wasn’t surprised. Just was showing people what’s pretty much been evident for the last two years.’