Ja Morant 

In a win for Ja Morant, a Tennessee judge ruled Monday that the Memphis Grizzlies superstar fairly raised self-defense in a lawsuit filed by a teenager he punched in July 2022, according to a court filing obtained by ESPN.

The ruling comes after a December 2023 civil immunity hearing in Memphis, where Morant testified that he “swung first” at Joshua Holloway, then 17, to protect himself during an altercation that led to Holloway filing a September 2022 lawsuit accusing Morant of assault.

The altercation came about during a pickup basketball game. Holloway, allegedly frustrated by losing several games, was accused of throwing a one-handed pass at Morant during a check-ball situation.

The ball hit Morant in the face, after which Morant said Holloway took a step toward him and that he then stepped forward and punched Holloway.

After that blow, Morant’s friend, Davonte Pack, punched Holloway — an act for which Pack was later arrested for misdemeanor assault. The charge against Pack was later dismissed.

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Ja Morant