How Ja Morant's punishment compares to other player suspensions

The NBA announced Friday that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is suspended 25 games, with conditions for reinstatement, following an investigation into his second gun-related incident in recent months.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver discussed the situation last week on the "Dan Patrick Show," hinting that a significant suspension was coming and saying he was "disappointed" in Morant's actions. Silver also said that he wanted to "find a way" where the two-time All-Star wasn't being "kicked to the curb, but basketball will take a backseat."

There have only been seven players on record to receive suspensions greater than Morant's 25 games (five others have been suspended the same amount), and three non-players have received punishments for a longer period of time. The list doesn't include NBA figures who were banned from the game.

The three non-players to earn suspensions of more than 25 games were former Boston Celtics head coach/new Houston Rockets leader Ime Udoka (originally a season-long suspension but officially a 59-game punishment), Golden State Warriors minority owner Mark Stevens (65 games) and former Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver (93 games).

The longest player suspension was issued to then-Ron Artest (now known as Metta Sandiford-Artest) following his involvement in the "Malice at the Palace" in November 2004. Artest was suspended 86 games (73 regular-season contests and 13 in the playoffs) after entering the stands, grabbing a fan after a drink was thrown in his direction and punching another fan during the brawl at the end of the infamous game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.

In December 1997, Warriors player Latrell Sprewell threatened, choked and punched head coach P.J. Carlesimo during a practice after the coach criticized Sprewell's passing. Sprewell was initially suspended 10 games, but he was subsequently suspended for a year — and the total number of games missed came to 68.

Former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas was suspended 50 games in January 2010 after having an unloaded gun in his locker and pointing it at teammate Javaris Crittenton during an argument. Crittenton was suspended for 38 games for also having an unloaded firearm in the locker room and drawing it on Arenas during the argument.

Artest's Pacers teammate, Stephen Jackson, was suspended 30 games for entering the stands and punching a fan during the "Malice at the Palace."
Former Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges was suspended 30 games in April 2023 after pleading no contest to a felony domestic violence charge from an incident in June 2022.

Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Kermit Washington was suspended for 26 games after punching Rudy Tomjanovich of the Houston Rockets during a game in December 1977.