A Tennessee judge rules in favor of Ja Morant, deeming his actions as "self-defense" in an ongoing lawsuit.
The lawsuit originates from a pickup basketball altercation in July 2022, where Morant was accused of punching a teenager.
Morant testified that he acted in self-defense after the teenager threw a pass that hit him in the face during the game.
Allegedly, Morant punched the teenager in response to him advancing aggressively.
The judge's ruling shifts the burden of proof to the accuser to demonstrate that Morant did not act in self-defense.
This ruling offers relief amid Morant's off-court controversies, including two incidents involving firearms.
Despite setbacks, Morant returned to the court in December 2023 and was named Western Conference Player of the Week.
However, a season-ending shoulder injury limited Morant to just nine games, impacting the Grizzlies' performance as they struggle in the Western Conference standings.