How did former NBA player's testimony help Ja Morant? Memphis Grizzlies' physical abuse lawsuit verdict explained

Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant was relieved when he won the physical abuse lawsuit dismissal on Monday. The lawsuit was filed by Joshua Holloway, a college basketball player, who accused Ja Morant of physical abuse during a pick-up game. The judge wrote the ruling in Ja Morant’s favor, saying what he did was an act of self-defense, as per Tennessee law. Former NBA player Mike Miller had testified in Ja Morant’s favor, explaining the turn of events at the time of the incident.


Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant physical abuse lawsuit dismissed based on former NBA player’s testimony



In July 2022, Joshua Holloway, a Samford University player, and Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant got into a scuffle during a pick-up game. Joshua sued the Grizzlies’ star for hitting him and filed a physical abuse lawsuit against him. Morant got relief in the case on Monday, followed by the judge ruling in his favor.

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A lawsuit filed by a teenager who accused two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant of punching him during a pickup game in 2022 has been dismissed as the ruling stated that the Grizzlies' guard acted in 'self-defense'.https://t.co/x41ZHed2EJ

— News18 Sports (@News18Sports) April 24, 2025

Former NBA player Mike Miller was at the scene of the incident. He testified in favor of the Grizzlies’ guard, saying Joshua hit the player on the face with the baseball, which actually started the scuffle. The judge said in the ruling that Joshua’s statements and those of witnesses were discrepant and that Morant’s actions were justified as per Tennessee law, which allows people to stand their ground if they find themselves in a dangerous situation.



Revisiting Ja Morant’s testimony in physical abuse lawsuit



Judge Carol Chumney in April 2024 ruled that Morant enjoyed a presumption of civil immunity under Tennessee law. Joshua challenged the ruling and stated that Morant’s punching was an aggressor’s act and not that of the one trying to defend.




In December 2023, during a hearing on the case, the Memphis Grizzlies star presented his side of the story. He walked the court through the actual sequence of actions that led him to punch Joshua. Morant said that Joshua first hit the basketball on his face during a check-ball moment, followed by taking a fighting stance, which led him to believe that the latter might hit him hard. So, he punched the teenager in self-defense, Morant testified.

Jamie Morant (via video testimony) said that Joshua Holloway threw the ball at Ja Morant’s face and then stepped back in a defensive mode as if to fight.

— Drew Hill (@DrewHill_DM) December 13, 2023

Though Tennessee law is considered in criminal cases, the judge allowed it to be referred to in a civil lawsuit and passed the judgment accordingly.




Also Read: Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant makes a bold claim after a disappointing loss against Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of playoffs




Do you support Ja Morant’s hitting of teen player Joshua, or do you think his actions went overboard? Share in the comments.