Source: Don Juan Moore/Getty
It looks like embattled NBA superstar Ja Morant just dodged another legal bullet as a judge ruled in his favor in a case involving a physical altercation with a teenager during a 2022 pickup game.
According TMZ, Ja Morant won a legal victory when the judge overseeing a case where Morant was accused of putting his hands on a then-17-year-old Joshua Holloway ruled that Morant was actually acting in self-defense when he punched Holloway when the two got into a fight on the field in Morant's Eads, Tennessee, at home. While many speculated that this was another incident that proves Morant's descent into the lifestyle he was seemingly embracing at the time, the judge felt that Morant was justified in his actions, thus handing the NBA player a victory in the case brought to him by the then-minor.
TMZ References:
Joshua Holloway, who was 17 at the time of the incident, sued Morand in September 2022, alleging the Grizzlies point guard picked him up while the two were playing on a basketball court at the Jazz's Eds, Tenn., home. .
Holloway claimed that during an in-game altercation, he threw a ball at Morad and accidentally hit him in the face. He claimed that Morad then became enraged and socked him with a closed fist.
Morant, however, later claimed he was acting in self-defense … explaining during court proceedings in December that he was simply trying to protect himself from harm.
Fortunately for Ja, the Shelby County judge felt the same way and had as much to say in his 44-page ruling. The case will move forward with a trial set to begin later this month, but with this ruling it looks like Ja can get out of this situation without having to cough up much of his $197 million salary.
What do you think of the judge who ruled in favor of Ja? Let us know in the comments section below.