Angel Reese has suggested Ja Morant is being unfairly treated over his alleged ‘gun’ celebration – with the LSU basketball star appearing to draw comparisons with the fallout from her taunt of Caitlin Clark.
Morant landed himself in hot water last month, just a week after returning from a 25-game suspension for flashing a firearm for the second time.
The Grizzlies star celebrated a dunk by stretching out both his arms and appearing to pull a trigger before moving his hands towards his head – as if holding something on his shoulder.
The 24-year-old reposted a tweet claiming he was imitating players from LSU who have performed a similar celebration after scoring a touchdown.
But many social media users saw it as Morant flashing a gun towards the crowd.
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Ja Morant celebrated a dunk by stretching out his arms and appearing to pull a trigger
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The guard then moved his hands towards his head – as if holding something on his shoulder
There was less controversy when Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers performed the same celebration during the Longhorns’ defeat by the Washington Huskies on New Year’s Day.
When one media outlet’s coverage of the two celebrations was pointed out, Reese tweeted: ‘Lol i’ve seen this before…’
It was an apparent reference to her own treatment following the NCAA championship game in April, when Reese waved her hand in front of her face while staring down Clark and then pointed toward her finger as if to say a ring was coming while walking toward the Iowa star.
Reese was unapologetic afterwards, despite a backlash, and she later revealed her ‘frustration’ at the way her celebration overshadowed LSU’s win over Iowa.
‘One day we’re going down in the history books, so it’s bigger than me. I’m so happy that we won the championship. I wish it was more talked about,’ she said.
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Angel Reese waved her hand in front of her face while staring down Caitlin Clark
lol i’ve seen this before…. https://t.co/7XZZBdQipp
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) January 2, 2024
‘As much as they talked about the Caitlin situation… because we worked just as hard. We put a lot of sweat and tears into that championship and people don’t realize that. It’s the best of both worlds.
‘I’m happy the situation happened, but at the same time I’m a national champion and I’m getting a ring.’
Morant, meanwhile, has been sanctioned twice for being caught on camera holding a gun. He was suspended for eight games last season – over a social media clip at a strip club – and then again for the first 25 games of this season over an Instagram Live video while he was in a car.
Morant returned to the court on December 19.
