Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant testified on Monday in Shelby County Circuit Court, asserting that he acted in self-defense during an altercation that occurred in July 2022, where he punched teenager Joshua Holloway at his residence.
“I swung first to protect myself,” Morant stated during the first day of an immunity hearing, emphasizing his motive behind the action.
Morant recounted the incident, highlighting Holloway’s actions leading up to the altercation. “Him pulling up his shorts, where I’m from, that’s a fighting stance,” Morant said, describing his perception of Holloway’s behavior as a threat.
He further elaborated, “I hit him first — to protect myself,” explaining the sequence of events during the confrontation.
Throughout the proceedings, Morant’s attorneys aimed to leverage Tennessee’s self-defense immunity statute to seek dismissal of the lawsuit, emphasizing the consistency of Morant’s account with eyewitness testimonies.
On the other side, representing Holloway, attorney Rebecca Adelman challenged Morant’s narrative. “We’re in this court. We’re not on a basketball court. In this court, we’re all equal. Nobody’s above the law,” Adelman asserted, highlighting the legal context of the altercation.
The courtroom witnessed attempts to recreate the incident using a basketball, with Adelman probing Morant about alternative approaches before resorting to physical action. “Was there time before you punched Holloway to choose another approach, such as pushing him or asking him to leave the property?” Adelman questioned, trying to ascertain the immediacy of Morant’s response.
When asked if he would apologize to Holloway, Morant responded, “Probably not. I was protecting myself,” emphasizing his stance on the situation.
The legal proceedings unfolded amidst Morant’s imminent return to the NBA after a 25-game suspension for conduct deemed detrimental to the league. Despite the legal challenges, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins commended Morant’s dedication and participation in team practices, expressing anticipation for his full return to the court.
As the immunity hearing continued, the court adjourned for the day, with Morant expressing his excitement for the upcoming games in a tweet: “8 days, 4 games,” signaling his readiness to return to action.
